Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has taken a tough stand on illegal encroachments on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land. After receiving serious complaints of illegal re-occupation on DDA land near Mayur Vihar Phase-1 to NH-24, the LG has ordered strict action against the responsible officers.
What Action Has Been Taken?
- The Assistant Engineer (AE) and Junior Engineer (JE) involved in the Mayur Nature Park project have been suspended for negligence.
- The LG has warned that if any DDA land is encroached again, strict steps will be taken including:
- Suspension
- Departmental inquiry
- FIR under criminal laws
Which Laws Will Be Used?
FIRs will be filed under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023:
- Section 198 – For neglect of duty
- Section 223, 316, 318 – For acts related to mismanagement and public loss
Also, action will be taken under: - Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 – Section 13
LG’s Instructions to DDA
- LG has asked the Vice Chairman of DDA to submit a full report within 7 days.
- He stressed that the Mayur Vihar to NH-24 stretch is part of an important Yamuna floodplain restoration project.
- The Mayur Nature Park project is going on there, so no carelessness will be tolerated.
What’s the Background?
In June 2024, on the orders of the High Court and NGT, DDA carried out a massive anti-encroachment drive. During that:
- 390 hectares of land was cleared
- 6,000+ illegal structures were removed
- 4 illegal nurseries, 250 hectares of illegal farming, and 40 illegal borewells were also destroyed
Despite this, illegal occupation has started again. This has raised questions on DDA’s working and has affected the government’s reputation and finances.
What Does It Mean?
The LG has made it very clear – officers found guilty of ignoring land encroachment will now face serious consequences. This includes suspension, criminal charges, and internal investigations. The goal is to protect public land and restore the Yamuna floodplain.
