Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Monday carried out a demolition & shifting drive of the Kathputli Colony in Delhi. The 40-year old slum inhabited by street artists near Shadipur Depot will soon be demolished to make way for a redevelopment project on the same site.
DDA, which owns the land, started issuing demolition slips to the residents of the colony, on Monday, under the cover of nearly 500 police and paramilitary personnel.
Residents of the community said,
“Police started coming into the colony on Sunday night & asked residents to vacate their houses. In fact, the police camped outside the colony the entire night”
Many of the artists said they do not want to leave the Kathputli Colony. Further, numerous residents said that the slum rehabilitation schemes in the city did not meet their requirements.
However, public department officials said that they are not forcing people to vacate their houses. They are only trying to convince them about the scheme.
