MC defers demolition drive at Bhalswa Dairy after protests
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 13
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Tuesday halted its demolition drive at Bhalswa Dairy Colony in North West Delhi after thousands of local residents fiercely resisted the arrival of bulldozers.
The demolition was initiated following a recent Delhi High Court order instructing authorities to relocate the Bhalswa dairies to Ghogha Dairy Colony, 20 km away, within four weeks. The court expressed concern about milch cattle feeding on garbage from nearby landfills, warning that this compromised the quality of milk.
However, residents argue that the relocation order is unjust, given their long history in the area.
“We’ve been living here for 40 years,” said Rakesh, a local resident. “When we first arrived, this place was nothing but a jungle. Now that the area has been developed, they’re telling us we’re unauthorised and must leave. But this area was properly allotted to us,” he added.
Vijay Prasad, another resident, shared similar sentiments: “Our dairy has been running here for 50 years. Our families were among the first to settle in this area. We’ve seen the garbage pile up when the land had no value. Now that it finally holds some value, they’re asking us to relocate.”
Others criticised the MCD for failing to manage the situation effectively. “MCD officials inspect our dairy every week, leaving almost no room for violations. If they had been this vigilant about managing the garbage, we wouldn’t be facing these issues. Is it only our waste that’s being dumped at the landfill? So why are we the ones being punished?” questioned Raghu, a resident who has lived in the area for over 54 years.
The demolition, which targeted dairy plots originally allocated for cattle but later converted for commercial or residential use, was halted when 10,000 to 15,000 residents gathered at Gujjar Chowk to protest.
“The MCD informed the High Court that it would not carry out the demolition drive until August 16 and have postponed it until further notice,” said an MCD official.
