New Delhi, June 1: Residents of Madrasi Camp in south Delhi’s Jungpura looked on in despair as bulldozers rolled into their locality, tearing down homes many had lived in for decades.
“Where will we live now?” – the sentiment was writ large on most faces as civic authorities carried out the demolition drive at the slum clusters near Barapullah bridge following a Delhi High Court order.
“I have been living here for the past 60 years now. My children were born here, everything happened here. We are sitting on the road. We do not know where to go,” said Janki, an elderly woman, sitting on the side of the road.
Residents and activists have urged the government to ensure proper rehabilitation before proceeding with further evictions.
Around 370 working class families lived in the jhuggi cluster which has been in existence for around 60 years. They were served eviction notices last month and those eligible would be relocated to government flats in Narela.
On April 12, officials declared a list of families that were eligible for the government-allotted flats. Only 189 families were found eligible for the flats.
A notice issued by authorities to the residents on May 30 stated that trucks would be stationed at Barapullah Bridge from 11 pm on Friday till June 1 to assist in transporting their belongings to the allotted flats. (PTI)
