The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Monday launched an anti-occupation drive in the Sarai Kale Khan area of the Yamuna floodplains
Officials said the exercise was conducted as per the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal and around 30 illegal establishments were cleared.
People had encroached upon DDA land and constructed shanties while also carrying out agricultural work, which is prohibited, said another DDA official.
Officials said that out of around 80 illegal structures, around 30 buildings were removed on Monday and the remaining occupants would be removed in the next phase of the operation.
Between November and December 2015, the DDA had carried out a series of demolition drives in over 100 acres of the Yamuna floodplains, removing several illegal structures in the process.
According to the report, prepared by Social Design Collaborative, members of the MainBhiDilli campaign, and Basti Suraksha Manch, As many as 56 bastis, with about 9,350 households, and roughly 46,750 people, are on the floodplains, Zone O in the city’s master plan,
The report found that of the total number of households, a little more than half, that is, 4,835 households, practise farming as a livelihood, while others rely on daily wage work, fishing, nurseries, animal herding,