Yamuna Bazaar demolition sparks chaos as DDA races to clear 32 ghats in a day

New Delhi: A scene of complete commotion unfolded at Yamuna Bazaar near Nigambodh Ghat on Thursday as Delhi Development Authority (DDA), along with multiple agencies, intensified its demolition drive, deploying several bulldozers and personnel in a bid to raze all 32 ghats in a single day.The action continued even as power discom teams were disconnecting and gathering electricity meters in a corner, while residents hurriedly salvaged iron doors, window grills and other belongings from their single-room dwellings to minimise losses.By around 3.30pm, bulldozers had already reached Ghats 23 and 24, while some families at Ghat 25 were still in the process of vacating despite repeated warnings from authorities.

Concerned DDA officials could be seen urging residents to remove their belongings quickly and directing junior staff to ensure no one remained inside the structures. Power discom staff, meanwhile, cautioned people about cables lying amid the debris.Amid thick clouds of dust generated by the demolition, scrap dealers silently surveyed abandoned structures and searched through rubble for recyclable metal. Crowds gathered behind a wall separating the settlement from the main road, watching the operation unfold as police personnel repeatedly asked onlookers to maintain a safe distance.

In one corner, Sharda (name changed), visibly distressed and searching for her son to help remove household belongings, struggled to make herself heard over the noise of the machines. When asked why she had not left earlier like many of her neighbours, she remained silent.Moments later, a neighbour explained the hesitation. “We were still hoping the drive would be halted midway, as had happened during previous demolition attempts.

We are poor people and barely earn enough to feed our families. The cost of moving to rented accommodation has only increased our worries. Even though it was just a single room, we spent our hard-earned money over five decades building this house for our large family.

Today, everything has come to square one and we are back on the road. We may have to spend the night on the roadside,” he said.The demolition follows directions of Delhi High Court and National Green Tribunal mandating the removal of encroachments from the ecologically sensitive O-Zone floodplain to aid river restoration and reduce urban flooding risks.In a public notice issued on June 23, DDA asked residents of the “illegal” settlements to vacate voluntarily, warning encroachments would otherwise be removed. The authority also offered temporary accommodation at DUSIB night shelters located at Raja Garden-II, Saraswati Park in RK Puram, A-Block JJR Colony in Sultanpuri, and Geeta Colony near Ambedkar Institute of Advanced Communication Technologies.However, many residents were reluctant to move to the shelters.

“These places are unsafe and unhygienic. The question of shifting there with our family, especially women members, does not arise. I would rather spend a day or two on the roadside before finding rented accommodation,” said a local woman.Suresh Sharma, 70, a resident of Kashmiri Ghat who was born and raised in the area, said the settlement had long served families performing last rites according to Kashmiri traditions.“People from across the city came here for cremation rituals. But the loss of our case by the Panda Association and misuse of the area by some people invited action from the authorities. In 2006, residents were offered 40-square-yard plots, but many neither relocated nor pursued the matter. Today, when bulldozers have arrived, everyone is demanding rehabilitation,” he said.A DDA official said, “We have decided to continue the demolition till 10pm as police personnel will not be available Friday because of Muharram duties. All precautions have been taken to ensure the drive is carried out smoothly.”