DDA fails to give plots to evicted families from Bawana

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been proving its inability in providing alternative housing options to 635 families that were evicted eight years ago.

From where they were evicted?

The families were evicted from Bawana Industrial Area and nearby colonies such as Paschim Vihar, Ashok Vihar, among others. The DDA had promised to give new plots as replacement to all those families, who have been living in shacks thereafter.

Promise made eight years ago

Prior to the 2010 Commonwealth Games that was held in nation’s capital Delhi, the 635 families were asked by the authority to vacate their houses. The DDA had demolished their houses and had assured the families that they will be provided alternate plots in other places.

Families protesting against DDA

The families have unitedly formed a committee named Bawana Sangharsh Samiti (BSS). The representatives of the committee protested against the civic authority at the DDA headquarters at INA, demanding their plots. They alleged that the DDA Vice chairman and the LG had promised to give them replacement plots, but nothing has been done in this regard so far.

What members say?

Umesh Singh, president of the BSS, who was protesting along with other representatives of the families, revealed that, when they had started the recent protest, the DDA vice-chairman, D Diptivilasa, spoke to a few representatives. He promised them that the first batch of allotment letters would reach them shortly. Mr. Singh complained that, such assurances are not new to them, as they were given assurances many times earlier, but nothing was actually done as per the promises made. However, he alleged that, the members are left with no other choice than to wait for some more time before taking the next step.

All the 635 families are eligible to get new plots and the Lieutenant General Tejinder Khanna has also accepted to it. Despite of this, the DDA is not taking any further step in this regard, which creates suspicion of corruption. LG had revealed that the DDA had conducted incorrect surveys. He had also announced that anyone having legal documents should be allotted land even if their name has not been included in the survey, Singh added.