Drive continues: 82 squatters removed, 12 structures razed
NEW DELHI: For the ninth day the Supreme Court’s special task force, which has been formed to rid Delhi of encroachments, took action against squatters and illegally parked vehicles around Red Fort, Daryaganj, Uttam Nagar, Dwarka Mor and Ramphal Chowk in Dwarka.
At least 82 squatters and hawkers and 12 permanent structures were pulled down by the teams from the south, east and north Delhi municipal corporations on Sunday, officials said. Action was also taken against 13 illegally parked vehicles.
The special task force has members of Delhi’s three civic bodies in its enforcement teams.
Sunday was the ninth day of drive to clear up Delhi’s streets. Over a dozen major markets, arterial roads and Metro stations have been targeted in the drive. In several crowded areas such as Old Delhi Khari Baoli and Sadar Bazar, the enforcement agencies conducted the drive multiple times to ensure that encroachers do not return.
On Sunday, teams from the North Delhi Municipal Corpora- tion targeted the stretch from Daryaganj to Red Fort, and from the Old Delhi Railway Station towards Peeli Kothi.
“Over 50 temporary structures and handcarts were seized in today’s (Sunday’s) drive. In areas where these squatters are returning we have issued warnings and we will conduct regular revisits,” a senior north corporation official said.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) targeted the stretch from Uttam Nagar in west Delhi towards Dwarka, and the Ramphal Chowk — from Palam to Brahma Apartments in Dwarka’s Sector 7.
“We have cleared the arterial road on the connecting Dwarka and Uttam Nagar from Janakpuri C-1. The stretch had several unlicensed vendors, whose goods were seized and the cars parked on this road was also impounded,” an SDMC official said.