Several residents of the Usmanpur area in Delhi's Shahdara district are grappling with uncertainty after receiving just one day's notice to vacate their homes. The eviction notice, served by local authorities on March 2, demanded residents near the Old Iron Bridge leave by Monday, ahead of an anti-encroachment drive scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I work as a house help and have responsibilities towards my granddaughter and ill husband. If evicted, we will have nowhere to go. There are no relatives we can rely on,” Pushpa explained.
She appealed directly to authorities, requesting additional time to find alternative housing and employment.
“Where will I go in this condition with my child? With such a limited income, renting a house in Delhi, alongside other expenses, is nearly impossible,” Pinky expressed despairingly.
"No breach of law and order will be tolerated," the official emphasized.
Yamuna Beautification Project Forces Residents Out
This sudden raze drive is part of the Yamuna beautification initiative, aiming to clear encroachments along the riverbank. Yet for many residents, this area represents decades of cherished memories, struggles, and daily survival.Residents Speak Out: Stories of Struggle
Pushpa Devi: Facing Homelessness at 60
Pushpa Devi, a woman in her 60s, has called Usmanpur home for 40 years. After losing her eldest son and his wife in an accident, she became the sole caretaker of their daughter, alongside her sick husband.“I work as a house help and have responsibilities towards my granddaughter and ill husband. If evicted, we will have nowhere to go. There are no relatives we can rely on,” Pushpa explained.
She appealed directly to authorities, requesting additional time to find alternative housing and employment.
Pinky Kashyap: Young Mother with Nowhere to Go
Similarly, 21-year-old Pinky Kashyap, five months pregnant, faces the daunting prospect of eviction with her 18-month-old daughter. Her husband earns Rs 12,000 per month as a shopkeeper in Greater Kailash, leaving them financially unable to afford rental housing elsewhere in Delhi.“Where will I go in this condition with my child? With such a limited income, renting a house in Delhi, alongside other expenses, is nearly impossible,” Pinky expressed despairingly.
Seema: A Lifetime Under Threat of Displacement
Seema, in her 50s, has long feared eviction. Now her worst fears have materialized. "We've constantly lived under the threat that someday we'd be asked to leave. We’re poor and have nowhere else to go. If we had enough to pay rent, we wouldn't have lived here," she stated, urging authorities to provide immediate shelter alternatives.Authorities to Ensure Strict Law and Order
Responding to potential unrest, a senior Delhi Police official announced stringent security measures. Over 1,500 Delhi Police officers, alongside paramilitary forces, will be deployed to ensure the drive proceeds without disruption."No breach of law and order will be tolerated," the official emphasized.