The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry assured the Rajya Sabha that no houses have been demolished by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to beautify the city for the upcoming G20 Summit in September. Despite witnessing the demolition of several structures, including religious ones, during the anti-encroachment drive in various areas, the ministry clarified that no such actions have been taken in preparation for the international event.
Delhi’s Anti-Encroachment Drive Continues Amid G20 Preparations
Responding to a question raised by RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushal Kishore, stated that the DDA has confirmed that no houses have been demolished specifically for the purpose of beautifying the city for the G20 Summit. However, he highlighted that the identification and removal of encroachments on government and DDA land is an ongoing process.
Special Task Force Oversees Enforcement of Building Bye-Laws
To oversee the enforcement of the master plan for Delhi 2021 and Unified Building Bye-laws for Delhi, a special task force (STF) under the chairmanship of the DDA vice chairman was established on April 25, 2018. This STF plays a vital role in identifying unauthorized encroachments, illegal constructions, and violations of building bye-laws. It then directs the relevant urban local bodies to take suitable action against such encroachments on a continuous basis.
49 Demolition Programs Undertaken in Delhi Since April
Since April 1, the DDA has undertaken 49 demolition programs in Delhi, reclaiming an area measuring 229.137 acres. While the anti-encroachment drive has been ongoing, it is not directly related to preparations for the G20 Summit.In the past months, Delhi witnessed protests and a political uproar following the anti-encroachment drive, particularly in areas like Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Pragati Maidan, and Bhajanpura. Several structures, including a temple and a mazar, were removed, and notices were sent to a mosque in Bengali Market and another near Pragati Maidan metro station, asking them to remove encroachments within 15 days.
Delhi Gears Up for G20 Summit with Repair Work Deadline
As Delhi gears up to host the G20 Summit, the government has set a deadline of July 31 for agencies to complete repair work on roads, parks, flyovers, and underpasses in preparation for the event. The city continues to address encroachments through its ongoing anti-encroachment efforts, separate from the preparations for the international summit.