The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday initiated a demolition drive around the Jama Masjid area in Old Delhi clearing “temporary structures” built in public parks near the Mughal era monument, senior civic officials said.
“As part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with the directions of the Delhi high court and to safeguard public spaces, an enforcement action was undertaken in the park areas around Jama Masjid under Old Delhi Zone, MCD.
MCD officials said that the encroachment removal drive was being undertaken in compliance with the directions of the Delhi high court to recover the public spaces. The MCD spokesperson said that the enforcement action is focused on the parks around Jama Masjid. Certain unauthorised temporary structures were removed by the MCD teams with the full cooperation of all concerned stakeholders and authorities,” the spokesperson said adding that the demolition exercise was carried out peacefully. Earlier this year in January, the Delhi high court ordered a probe into encroachments in and around Jama Masjid, saying, “If any illegal construction is found, the law must take its course.”
