Delhi Encroachment – LG Sandhu Calls for Technology-Led Land Protection Drive
Delhi Encroachment – Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has directed the Delhi Development Authority to maintain a strict approach against encroachments and unauthorised construction across the capital. Chairing a meeting of the DDA Advisory Council on Friday, Sandhu stressed the need for faster detection and timely action to protect public land.
Focus on real-time monitoring
The Lieutenant-Governor asked the authority to expand the use of technology for tracking land parcels and buildings across Delhi. He said digital tools should be used for real-time surveillance so that illegal occupation, boundary violations and unauthorised structures can be identified at an early stage.
The direction is aimed at improving enforcement on government-owned land, where delayed intervention can often make removal drives more difficult. Sandhu also called for prompt follow-up action whenever field teams or monitoring systems report suspected violations.
DDA deploys flying squads for land protection
During the meeting, the DDA informed the council that it has created 14 flying squads under its Land Management Department. These teams have been assigned to safeguard land under the authority’s control and respond to cases of encroachment in different parts of the city.
According to the DDA, its survey teams conduct inspections every day to identify unauthorised occupation and illegal construction activity. The authority said the regular field checks, combined with enforcement operations, have helped it recover a substantial area of public land over the past year.
More than 241 acres reclaimed since April 2025
The DDA said that nearly 241.51 acres of government land have been recovered since April 2025 through anti-encroachment drives. In addition, illegal structures were removed from about 235.96 acres located in designated development areas.
Officials indicated that the reclaimed land will remain under continued observation to prevent fresh encroachments. The authority has been working to strengthen coordination between its land management teams, local agencies and enforcement units to ensure that cleared sites are not occupied again.
Drone survey covers most of Delhi
Sandhu was also updated on the drone-based survey being conducted across Delhi. The exercise is being carried out through a three-way arrangement involving the DDA, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Survey of India.
The survey covers an identified area of around 1,370 square kilometres. Officials said more than 1,122 square kilometres have already been mapped through drone technology. The project is expected to provide detailed and updated information on land use, construction patterns and possible unauthorised developments.
The mapping exercise may also help agencies maintain more accurate land records and plan enforcement work with greater precision. Digital survey data can support quicker verification of complaints and help officials compare current ground conditions with approved land-use plans.
Advisory Council reviews enforcement measures
The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Sudhanshu Trivedi, along with representatives from several government departments and agencies. The council reviewed the DDA’s land protection efforts and discussed ways to improve coordination in dealing with encroachment-related cases.
The Lieutenant-Governor’s directions place greater emphasis on preventive monitoring rather than relying only on demolition or clearance action after violations have expanded. With flying squads, daily inspections and drone mapping underway, the DDA is expected to increase surveillance of vulnerable land parcels across Delhi.