DDA conducts demolition drive in south Delhi’s Sainik Farm

The Delhi Development Authority on Thursday carried out a demolition drive in the affluent Sainik Farm area of south Delhi, officials said.

According to the Resident Welfare Association, the drive targeted two residential plots located on Western Avenue.

“This is a completely illegal action. They came around 5 am and carried out the drive despite us having a stay order from the court. This is a private land, and DDA does not have a clear demarcation of the Khasra number of this plot,” Hardeep Singh Bhalla, president of the Western Avenue Residents’ Welfare Association (WARWA), alleged.

While the government is talking about regularising unauthorised colonies, the DDA is taking action against the residents in the area, Bhalla said.

There was no immediate response from DDA on the matter.

A police officer said that a government agency had sought the deployment of personnel for the demolition drive.

“An adequate police force was provided to maintain law and order. No protest has been so far,” the officer said.

The Centre on Tuesday announced a new policy to regularise 1,521 unauthorised colonies based on “as is where is” eligibility criteria, subject to approvals from Delhi government agencies.

The entire process of in-situ regularisation will be online and it will involve the revenue department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Earlier, the DDA used to issue conveyance deeds (for government land) or authorisation slips (for private land) to properties in these colonies.