The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) destroyed a shelter home in southeast Delhi’s Nizamuddin, leaving around 100 displaced. The news came to light after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media on Friday to comment on the demolition. At least 50 are kids among the affected.
“V sad. Del govt’s shelter home demolished. Women, children rendered homeless. They r being shifted to another shelter home,” he tweeted(sic).
Reportedly, it was a shelter for the homeless and slum children who went there to study. “We have asked the Delhi government to move the court to protect the homeless. There was no intimation by the DDA and we have somehow shifted a few of them to other shelters. The shelter was built after an order from the court and the DDA had assured there will be no demolition,” said Rajesh Kumar, executive director, SPYM, reported HT.
However, a senior DDA official claimed, “It was an unauthorized construction with no approval. The NGO had even gone to the high court but it didn’t give any relief to them and had specifically said it is an unauthorized construction. So, the action was taken.”
“No prior information of demolition was given either to DUSIB or the NGO running the shelter or to the residents. The commission was informed that the shelter was demolished by DDA and Delhi Police…Residents were not even given adequate time to collect their meagre belongings,” said an officer.
