NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday that there will be no demolition actions against existing constructions in the colonies and villages within the O-Zone area.
In a meeting held at the Secretariat, Gupta discussed the matter with senior officials and public representatives, including MPs Manoj Tiwari and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely, as well as senior officers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Approximately 91 unauthorized colonies and a dozen old villages, housing around 15 lakh people, are located in the O-Zone area, which encompasses the eco-sensitive floodplains of the Yamuna River in Delhi.
During the meeting, Gupta sought clarity from senior DDA officials. She noted that the Delhi High Court had not commented on completed constructions but had raised concerns regarding ongoing ones.
Gupta pointed out that, with the court having communicated its position to the DDA, the authority should proceed accordingly. She also mentioned plans to meet with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs ML Khattar regarding this issue.
Moreover, Gupta instructed the DDA to amend the wording of the signs installed in the O-Zone area as per the High Court’s remarks to prevent unnecessary panic among residents.
It was highlighted that the signage had caused anxiety among residents regarding possible demolition actions following the court’s orders. During the meeting, public representatives affirmed that based on their review of the High Court orders and government records, existing structures in these colonies face no threats, as the directives specifically pertain to new or ongoing constructions.
It was reiterated that no demolition actions would be taken against existing constructions. The DDA has also been informed by the High Court to this effect. Additionally, public representatives expressed concerns about certain individuals exploiting the situation to instill fear among residents while executing their own illegal construction activities.
They called for effective measures to protect the Yamuna floodplain from unauthorized constructions, stating their agreement to a total ban on new constructions in the O-Zone area.
