Delhi authorities have ordered approximately 310 families in the Yamuna Bazar colony to vacate their homes within 15 days [1], [2].
The order targets a vulnerable population living in the Nigam Bodh Ghat area, where the threat of forced displacement clashes with government efforts to manage environmental risks.
Officials from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) issued the notices to residents along the Yamuna River floodplain in Old Delhi [1], [2]. The agency said illegal occupation of the floodplain and the associated risk of flooding were the primary reasons for the move [3].
The DDMA warned that those who do not comply with the deadline face the loss of their homes. "Failure to comply would invite demolition of unauthorised structures," the notice said [4].
Residents have expressed resistance to the order, citing deep ties to the land. One resident of Yamuna Bazar said, "This is our janmabhoomi" [5].
The affected group consists of roughly 310 families [1], though some reports describe the group as over 300 families [2]. The 15-day window provides a narrow timeframe for the residents to find alternative housing, or challenge the legality of the eviction [2].
The government said the structures are illegal encroachments on the river's natural floodplain [3]. This area is prone to seasonal swelling, which authorities said necessitates the removal of permanent dwellings to ensure public safety and environmental stability [3].
“"Failure to comply would invite demolition of unauthorised structures."”
This eviction highlights the ongoing tension between urban disaster mitigation and the housing rights of marginalized populations in Delhi. By prioritizing the clearance of the Yamuna floodplain to reduce flood risk, the city is displacing hundreds of families who lack formal land tenure, potentially exacerbating urban poverty and homelessness in the capital.
