Replying to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s letter to the L-G criticising DDA’s demolition drive in Mehrauli as unconstitutional and unlawful, the land agency has justified its action as a move to protect the ridge from encroachment.
The DDA in a statement said the demolition of nearly 21 jhuggis on DDA land at Shamsi Talab, Mehrauli was peaceful, in keeping with a Supreme Court order and denied Kejriwal’s allegation that it had resulted in the death of an infant.
Mr Kejriwal had, on August 31, written a three-page letter to L-G Najeeb Jung, claiming that the August 26 demolition drive conducted by DDA in Mehrauli area was illegal and unconstitutional and was carried without any mandatory arrangements for rehabilitation. He had also claimed that the drive had caused the death of an infant.
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The statement expressly stated that the land under encroachment was DDA land, which the land agency plans to develop as a woodland. The statement further clarified that various persons have been encroaching on this government land, which is part of the South Central Ridge. Also, it added that there were several complaints from Residents Welfare Association of Mehrauli regarding protection of the ridge land.
The statement expressly stated that the land under encroachment was DDA land, which the land agency plans to develop as a woodland