No demolition without rehabilitation: Kejriwal

“It has been decided that from now on, no slum would be demolished anywhere in Delhi,” Kejriwal said. “First, people living in the slums will be rehabilitated peacefully and only then will the vacant land be handed over to the Railways.

“We decided that Railways will give us a schedule of the lands it needs to get vacated in the next three or four years in Delhi.

“The Delhi government, according to its policies, will first rehabilitate the slum dwellers and then give back the land to the Railways,” he said. The Chief Minister said the Delhi government shifted occupants of 594 hutments peacefully to another place without any demolition last month.

In the next five years, the Delhi government would, under its “Jahan Jhuggi Wahi Makan” policy, allot houses to slum dwellers at the same place where they lived.

“We will rehabilitate them to another place if it is not possible to allot them permanent houses at the place they have been living in.”

As politics over the Shakur Basti incident peaked, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the area earlier in the day. Some 500 hutments were demolished by Indian Railways at Shakur Basti, leaving hundreds homeless in the winter chill. An infant died in controversial circumstances during the drive as well.

Meanwhile, slamming the Railways for its “inhuman” demolition drive in the Capital, the Delhi high court on Monday issued notice to it, police and city government and directed them to make a coordinated action plan for rehabilitation of the displaced residents. A Bench headed by Justice S Murlidhar sought response from Indian Railways, police and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) by December 16 while hearing a plea filed by Congress leader Ajay Maken seeking direction for authorities to ensure that all displaced persons are immediately rehabilitated in temporary relief camps and shelter homes.

The Bench asked the Railways whether a survey was done and proper rehabilitation arrangements were made before the demolition drive in the area. The counsel for railway was unable to give a reply to the court’s query.

Observing that the Railways was in a hurry to demolish the shanties, the Bench asked: “What was the tearing hurry to demolish Shakur Basti JJ cluster in December?” It also sought details of the Shakur Basti residents and asked all agencies to distribute blankets, food and medicines.

Appearing for Maken, advocate Aman Panwar sought court’s direction for authorities to “immediately carry out a survey and prepare a list of those affected/displaced in the demolition drive”.