Despite criticism, Delhi civic bodies say will intensify ‘anti-encroachment’ drives

Undeterred despite massive criticism over Wednesday’s demolition drive in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, which was carried out by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), the mayors of the Capital’s two other civic bodies, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), both said they will ‘intensify’ anti-encroachment exercises in their respective jurisdictions.

“We are holding regular meetings to chalk out our strategy to remove encroachment from public land. Not a single encroacher will be spared. Today also, we held discussions with officials, and identified several sites under SDMC’s jurisdiction,” Mukesh Suryan, SDMC mayor, said.

More places are being added, and by Monday, there will be a final list, followed by appropriate action, Suryan further said.

Meanwhile, EDMC mayor, Shyam Sundar Agarwal, too, said anti-encroachment drives are already underway. “We have identified several areas where encroachment is a major problem. Today, we directed deputy commissioners of Shahdara north and south zones to prepare detailed roadmaps and necessary arrangements to carry out such activities,” Agarwal informed.