Delhi News: Illegal Shanties Reappear in Yamuna Khadar Despite Repeated Demolition Drives
Delhi News: Illegal settlements have once again emerged in the Yamuna Khadar floodplain near Mayur Vihar in Delhi, raising serious concerns about land encroachment, environmental safety, and administrative enforcement. This development has occurred despite multiple demolition drives carried out by the Delhi Development Authority throughout the year. The repeated reoccupation of the same land highlights a persistent challenge faced by civic agencies in safeguarding government property and protecting ecologically sensitive zones.
Background of Yamuna Khadar Encroachment
Yamuna Khadar is a vast floodplain area stretching across several kilometres along the Yamuna river. It is designated as an environmentally sensitive zone due to its role in flood control, groundwater recharge, and biodiversity preservation. Despite these factors, the area has increasingly become a target for unauthorized occupation. Over time, temporary shelters have turned into semi-permanent shanties, creating an informal settlement network that continues to expand after every clearance operation.
Repeated Demolition Drives and Their Limitations
According to official sources, demolition drives have been conducted nearly ten times in the current year alone. These operations involved removing illegal structures and clearing land intended for public projects such as the proposed Mayur Nature Park. However, within weeks of each drive, new shanties reappear, often rebuilt overnight. This cycle of demolition and reoccupation reflects gaps in continuous monitoring and post-demolition enforcement.
Allegations of Collusion and Land Mafia Influence
Local residents and activists allege that illegal shanties are being rebuilt with the silent support of certain officials and local representatives. It is widely believed that organized land mafia groups play a key role in occupying government land and renting out shanties to migrant workers. These structures are reportedly rented for modest monthly amounts, making them attractive to economically vulnerable populations while generating steady income for illegal operators.
Living Conditions and Basic Infrastructure
The settlements lack basic civic amenities. There is no formal electricity supply, prompting residents to rely on solar panels for lighting and small appliances. Water access is limited and sanitation facilities are largely absent, posing serious health risks. In addition to residential shanties, unauthorized grocery stalls and plant nurseries have also sprung up, further commercializing the encroached land.
Migrant Population and Economic Factors
An estimated 8,000 people from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are currently living in these illegal settlements. Most residents work as agricultural laborers, daily wage workers, or in informal jobs across East Delhi. Their dependence on proximity to work opportunities makes relocation difficult, contributing to the repeated return to the floodplain despite known risks.
Environmental and Flood Risks
The Yamuna Khadar is highly prone to flooding during the monsoon season. In August, rising water levels submerged large portions of the area, endangering lives and property. Just days before the flooding, authorities had cleared the settlements, but the land was reoccupied shortly afterward. This pattern exposes residents to recurring natural hazards while also obstructing natural floodwater flow, increasing the risk to surrounding urban areas.
Administrative Response and Future Action
Officials from the development authority have stated that fresh action will be taken against illegal shanties in the Yamuna Khadar. Plans include renewed eviction drives and stricter surveillance to prevent re-encroachment. However, without long-term solutions such as rehabilitation planning, continuous monitoring, and accountability mechanisms, enforcement efforts may continue to face the same challenges.
Need for Sustainable and Humane Solutions
While illegal occupation of government land cannot be justified, the situation also underscores the need for balanced urban planning. Sustainable solutions should address affordable housing, migrant worker rehabilitation, and livelihood security. At the same time, preserving floodplains and ecological zones must remain a priority to ensure environmental stability and urban resilience.