MCD Bulldozers Tear Down Over 100 Shops In Delhi's Harkesh Nagar: 'Licensed Outlets Razed'
Delhi Anti-Encroachment Drive: MCD on Tuesday bulldozed over 100 shops in Delhi's Harkesh Nagar. Some of the businesses were reportedly licensed for over 20 years.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) officials on Tuesday, May 27, conducted a large-scale anti-encroachment drive in Harkesh Nagar under the Tughlaqabad Assembly constituency. MCD diggers and excavators (bulldozers) demolished over 100 allegedly unauthorised shops and roadside slums. The action sparked strong protests among locals. This clashes with MCD officials. A heavy police presence was deployed to maintain law and order during the drive.
Deepak, a shopkeeper who ran his business in Harkesh Nagar for 40 years, said, "The MCD and other agencies didn't give us any time. We asked for just half an hour, but they refused. They started bulldozing immediately. They didn't allow us time to remove even our belongings. They broke my refrigerator."
He added that despite possessing vending certificates issued by the MCD, the anti-encroachment squad demolished the shops.
Shopkeepers Slam MCD's Bulldozer Action
Another shopkeeper, Mintu Gupta, said, "Aren't they supposed to uphold the law? They should have given us some time to remove our belongings. Instead, they took the law into their own hands. What kind of law enforcers are they? They didn't give us even five minutes. At the very least, they should have issued a notice."
Sanjay Gupta, another businessman whose trade was hit by the anti-encroachment drive, said the bulldozer action ruined him. "They demolished the place. They should have at least let us keep our shops. We've been here since 2002. I have a fruit shop. Now, we have to set up our shops again," he said.
'Why Did MCD Issue Vendor Licences?'
Some shopkeepers questioned the MCD's actions, asking why licenses were issued if the shops were to be demolished. While several shopkeepers blamed the MCD, no official statement has yet been released by the civic body regarding the demolition drive.
Shyam Sundar, who had been running a shop in the area since 1986, expressed his disappointment over the anti-encroachment drive. "I've been running this shop since 1986. I have a licence. Yet, it was demolished. There were 150 to 160 shops in total. Due to old age, I can't work anymore. They took all our belongings. I took a loan for the business. How shall I pay that back? We have a licence for this shop granted by the government. Despite this, the shop was razed. Why did they issue the licence then," he questioned.
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