Delhi HC orders demolition of Madrasi Camp JJ cluster for drain cleaning
New Delhi
The Delhi high court has ordered the demolition of a slum cluster encroaching upon public land near the old Barapullah bridge to facilitate the timely clearance of the Barapullah drain ahead of the impending monsoon season in the Capital.
In an order on Friday, the high court directed the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) to commence the demolition of the Madrasi Camp from June 1.
'Timely clearance of the Barapullah drain is imperative to prevent severe waterlogging in the adjoining areas. After having considered the entire matter comprehensively, and the general circumstances currently prevalent, this court is of the opinion that the demolition ought to be done in a systematic manner. The demolition of the Madrasi camp shall commence from June 1, 2025,' the court said in its order.
The demolition, which was to begin last September, was put on hold by the high court. In an order passed on September 10, 2024, the high court ordered status quo on a plea filed by the residents of the Madrasi Camp JJ cluster, granting temporary reprieve for residents. The decision to undertake the demolition was taken in compliance with the high court's directions to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), in a separate proceeding, to remove unauthorised constructions along the Yamuna river belt.
Disposing of the slum dwellers' petition on Friday, a bench led by justice Prathiba M Singh issued a slew of directions to undertake the process in a systematic manner and for the smooth rehabilitation of residents.
It said, 'The rehabilitation of the Madrasi Camp dwellers is also essential for the de-clogging of the Barahpullah drain. None of the dwellers can claim any rights beyond the right of rehabilitation, as the land is public land which is encroached upon.'
The bench, also comprising justice Manmeet PS Arora, in its order released on Saturday, directed the DDA, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and PWD to hold two camps from May 10 to May 12 for handing over possession letters of flats allotted in Narela and sanctioning loans for payment of ₹1.12 lakh, as per the Delhi Slum & JJ Rehabilitation and Relocation Policy, 2015.
In its 13-page order, the court further directed eligible allottees to move their belongings from the Madrasi Camp between May 20 and May 31, and directed the DDA/DUSIB to ensure the availability of all amenities at the allotted flats in Narela by May 20.
To ensure a smooth transition and admission of the displaced children from JJ dweller families, the court asked the authorities to accommodate them in nearby schools in Narela before the new academic session commences.
In their petition, residents had sought a stay on the eviction until implementation of proper rehabilitation measures. In their petition, the residents underscored that they have been living in the area for around 40 years and were entitled to rehabilitation as they are protected under the 2015 policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Indian Express
Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra shut again 41 days after Shivaji statue inauguration, ground cave-in sparks safety fears
Barely 41 days after the inauguration of a newly rebuilt 91-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the refurbished Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Sindhudurg district, has once again been shut to the public for urgent repairs. The closure was prompted by a partial cave-in near the statue's platform last week, raising concerns about the structural integrity and safety of the site. The Public Works Department (PWD) has issued a notice stating that the fort will be closed to tourists starting Sunday, with repair work expected to continue for several days. The damage was visible last week after heavy rains when a large crater emerged on the left side of the pathway around the statue. While the statue itself remains intact, viral videos showing the sunken ground have sparked widespread public criticism. Anil Patil, Collector, Sindhudurg, had attributed the incident to recent heavy rains. Although authorities initially claimed that the issue had been rectified, the decision was later made to suspend public access to carry out comprehensive repairs. The 91-foot bronze statue, depicting the sword-bearing Maratha warrior, was inaugurated on May 11, just eight months after the earlier 35-foot version collapsed in August 2024 amid heavy rainfall and strong winds. That statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023. The incident led to the arrests of both the statue's sculptor and its structural consultant amid a political firestorm, prompting the government to build a new structure. Constructed at a cost of Rs 31.75 crore, the new statue was unveiled by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, this second structural failure has revived criticism from Opposition leaders, including former Shiv Sena UBT Kudal MLA Vaibhav Naik. 'The state has so far spent over Rs 100 crore on this project, yet the ground around the statue has caved in. This raises serious questions about the quality of construction. Forts built during Shivaji Maharaj's reign have stood strong for centuries, yet structures built today with a supposed 100-year guarantee are failing. A thorough investigation must be conducted.' Naik said.
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- New Indian Express
3,634 differently-abled persons to be nominated to local bodies soon: CM MK Stalin
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced that a total of 3,634 persons with disabilities will be nominated to local bodies immediately, for which the application process will commence at the district level on July 1. Addressing the felicitation event organised by different organisations of PwDs at the renovated Valluvar Kottam to thank the CM for the representation provided to disabled people in local bodies, he said this will include 650 persons to urban local bodies and 2,984 persons to rural local bodies. It was the first event to be organised at the Valluvar Kottam, after it was renovated at a cost of Rs 80 crore, which included a conference hall with a seating capacity of around 1,400 persons. During the budget session of the Assembly in April, suitable legislative amendments were passed to enable the representation of 13,357 PwDs to all levels of local bodies through local bodies. Before coming on stage, Stalin visited the renovated campus, including the landmark chariot structure that was beautified with lights. Speaking to a packed crowd of PwDs, the CM said, 'A committee has been formed with district collector as head. A PwD will also be a member of the committee. Those who are nominated can take part in the local body meetings. Similar to the elected representative, nominated PwD will also be given honorarium.' Regarding the renovation of Valluvar Kottam, Stalin said, 'Kalaignar laid foundation stone for this 'cultural treasure' in 1974. AIADMK generally abandon the projects of DMK. They would not maintain the buildings, memorials built by us. Similarly this Valluvar Kottam, which was left without maintenance, has been renovated with renewed splendour.' He also appealed to the associations for PwDs to work jointly with the government and said all should grow as an inclusive society.
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- New Indian Express
To Myanmar with love for Telugu
SRIKAKULAM: 73-year-old Yerra Atchannaidu, alias Yerra Naidu, has dedicated his post-retirement life and personal funds to teaching Telugu to the Telugu-speaking community in Myanmar (Burma), where the language is gradually disappearing. Over 2.5 lakh Telugu people are settled in Myanmar, and in 1911, they formed the 'Andhra Sangham'. Naidu's forefathers migrated to Burma, but his parents returned to India as refugees during the 1966 crisis. Naidu later got a job in the Public Works Department (PWD), shifted to the Airport department in 1990, and retired in 2010 after two decades of service. In 2011, he visited Myanmar to attend the centenary celebrations of the Andhra Sangham in Moulmein city. There, he observed the decline of the Telugu language and resolved to preserve it. 'Although I worked in Central government departments they are unrelated to language. I have an interest in learning our mother tongue and passion in teaching. These two instincts drove me to improve Telugu language status in Burma,' Yerra Naidu told TNIE. Naidu began teaching Telugu. Upon returning to India, he collaborated with Telugu teachers to develop teaching materials, acknowledging that most settlers had become accustomed to the Burmese language. Naidu compiled a Telugu-English-Myanmar (Burmese) dictionary with guidance from language experts, and got two editions of the Telugu-Burmese book published by Telugu Academy.
