[Reader-list] Delhi: Demolition log

[shveta]

Dear All,

These are the demolitions the city has seen since Feb 2004. It is likely this
list is not comprehensive. (From the press release of Visthapan Virodhak
Andolan)

3 Feb        Demolitions in Badarpur and Safdarjung
5 Feb        Single judge bench of High Court stays demolitions in Pushta
6 Feb        Homes destroyed in Raja Bazaar, number not known
10 Feb      And near Nizamuddin Bridge, again number unknown
11 Feb      1,500 jhuggis destroyed near Kamal Cinema, S.J. Enclave.
Early Feb   A woman, name unknown, commits suicide in the Pushta following
		  demolitions
12 Feb       Division bench of High Court vacates stay on demolitions
13 Feb       1,000 houses in  Gautampuri 2 in Pushta
21 Feb       Election Commission orders a halt on demolitions until elections
		  are over
8 March     EC changes stand. Approves the removal of more than 18,000
		   jhuggis from Pushta
15 March    Demolitions begin again after the ban is lifted
17 March    1,000 houses demolished in Gautampuri 1 in Pushta.
17 March   50 jhuggis taken down in Petti Market near Red Fort
19 March     292 houses taken down in Koyla Colony in the Pushta
24 March     3,000 jhuggis destroyed in Kanchanpuri. 9 protestors arrested
2 April         1,368 houses destroyed in Indira Colony
4 April         4 people protesting demolitions arrested. Overall, 5 jhuggi
		    residents are still in custody
10 April       1,100 jhuggis in Pushta demolished

[The time line is from press releases of VISTHAPAN VIRODHAK ANDOLAN, that
Diya has been working with against the Pushta demolitions.]

On Sunday evening two weeks ago, there was another fire in the colony (the 
first was two weeks ago, in which 500 homes were gutted). As before, there 
was "confusion" about whether the police had a hand in this. Newspapers have 
been silent.

And now, from PUDR reports, demolitions of the adjoining settlements, which do 
not come under the DDA (and therefore are not elligible for ANY 
compensation), are also underway. No surveys have been conducted. Just 
demolitions.

Relocation is to Holambikalan, Narela etc. And even this is way out of the
question for most (from among the 'surveyed' areas). From the 1500 home 
demolitions in the settlement near Kamal Cinema, for instance, 600 are not 
eligible for any relocation. The Indian Express writes about the "routine 
demolition", that it took a political colouring when the Congress alleged 
that the Centre was selectively targetting the Congress base in view of the 
forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. (The DDA, overseeing the demolitions and 
incharge of most of the land being cleared off, falls under the Union Urban 
Development Ministry.) 
[INDIAN EXPRESS, 12 FEB]

As regarding Pushta, While the western side is the constituency of Janata Dal
leader Shoib Iqbal, the Pushta area falls in the constituency of Congress(I)
legislator Tajdar Babar.
[Frontline, Volume 21 - Issue 05, February 28 - March 12, 2004, 'A tussle on
the Yamuna's banks']
[http://www.flonnet.com/fl2105/stories/20040312003304400.htm]

While I'm not sure what good it will do to seek out political motives, the
point is things don't look too good in the city.

Diya, please keep the list posted.

best
shveta