Families in Delhi’s Yamuna Bazar have received eviction notices for 310 homes along the river floodplains, leaving many residents anxious about their future and livelihoods.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority issued the notices on May 7 and directed the Delhi Development Authority to reclaim the land, describing the cluster as illegal encroachment. Residents were given 15 days to vacate the area near 32 ghats where families have lived for generations.
Rajvati, a 43-year-old resident, said she has spent sleepless nights worrying. “We have lived by the grace of the river. Our family has survived due to it,” she said. Her husband works as a priest conducting last rites, a tradition passed down in the family. Another resident, Reena Devi, noted that during monsoons the families move temporarily to a school at Kashmere Gate before returning home.
Aslam, who has crafted boats on the riverbank for 40 years, said the river provides his livelihood. Eighty-year-old priest Bharat Lal Sharma recalled similar notices in 2006 that were stayed by the Delhi High Court. Residents hope Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will intervene, with one stating they did not vote to become homeless.
