Arvind Kejriwal writes to LG over alleged demolition of jhuggis

New Delhi, Sep 1: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung over DDA's alleged demolition drive against jhuggis in Mehrauli area in south Delhi, and claimed the action was "illegal and unconstitutional".

In his three-page letter to Jung, who is the Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Kejriwal has also claimed that "more" such demolition actions by the urban body are in the offing.

According to the Chief Minister, DDA had on August 26 "demolished" around 40 jhuggis of people in Mehrauli area without any prior arrangement for their rehabilitation which allegedly led to "death" of an infant.

"In 2014, Parliament had enacted 'Delhi Special Provision Act 2014' according to which encroachment structure which came up before January 1, 2006 cannot be demolished. There is also a provision in this law that demolition can be carried out in case there is encroachment upon roads or government urgently needs land for its projects.

"Under the law, demolition can only be done if the concerned agency has made arrangements of rehabilitation. On August 26, DDA demolished shanties of people without arrangements of their rehabilitation," Kejriwal said.

Several telephone calls to DDA's concerned senior officials went unanswered. Kejriwal said that as per Delhi government's policy, shanties which came up before February 14, 2005 cannot be razed and the "demolition" carried out by the "DDA in Mehrauli area" is against the policy of government and the order of the Supreme Court.

"I have got to know that in the coming days, you (Lt Governor) are going to get jhuggis demolished in more areas. I want to request you to stop this demolition," he claimed in his letter.

In the letter, the Delhi Chief Minister also alleged, "The demolition drive carried out by the development authority in Mehrauli is against the law, constitution and humanity."

Kejriwal added that he had a meeting with the then vice-chairman of DDA on May 2 this year wherein a government proposal was accepted.

"Our proposal was that DDA gives us five years and during this period, government will provide pucca houses for those living in jhuggis.

We also asked DDA not to bring down any jhuggis in five years. "We also assured the development authority that if it needs land, it should inform us six months before," he said.

PTI