New Delhi: The Khatun (45) has lived along the plains of Yamuna floods across Lalita Park at Laxmi Nagar East Delhi for more than seven years now.
However, in the last 24 hours he had lost the roof above his head.
Khatun has two children to be taken care of and her husband, who draws a pedicab has a little income, which will not be enough for them to immediately find a house.
Like Khatun, hundreds of residents near Lalita Park and Ramesh Park have been expelled since Thursday, with Delhi Development Authority (DDA) carrying out the removal of encroachment in the floodland.
However, local residents, their charges did not provide prior notice, also would not be rehabilitation.
“There is no warning anything and no one came to tell us.
They just appeared with Earthmover and people had to gather their belongings and escape,” Khatun said, who stated while he had a PAN card, ID card Voters and have chosen for various parties in the last few elections, cannot help them in this matter.
“The only choice we left behind now is to sell our goats, which will give us money.
We might have to go back to our village,” he said.
Locals reached to NGO housing and land rights (HLRN), which said the petition would be submitted at Delhi High Court, questioning the eviction without notice.
“This has been done during a pandemic, which is a violation of fundamental rights.
People have not been given rehabilitation elsewhere.
This is all pedicab pullers and people from lower strata.
How will they manage at a time like this?” Dev said Pal, a field researcher with NGOs.
When Tii visited the area on Monday, hundreds of jhuggis lay flat, with some people still alive in the open.
Dashrath, a 72-year-old Mason, who has lived in the area for more than two decades, said he did not know where he would leave.
“My son is a pedicab puller and while I work as a mason before, I’m too old to work now.
Where are we going suddenly?” He added.
Locals suspect the nearby scrapping page can also be one reason for driving demolition.
“Many Kabaddies will come here and sort items.
If they are the reason, why does DDA do not target them, but we?” Dashrath is claimed.
Despite recurring efforts, DDA did not respond to questions sent by TOI.