New Delhi: For hundreds of families who had lived and worked along the Yamuna ghats for generations, the demolition of the Yamuna Bazar settlement in Delhi has meant far more than the loss of shelter. In a matter of days, many saw their homes, occupations and long standing community ties disappear.
Around 310 families were displaced after the Delhi Development Authority carried out a demolition drive in the Yamuna Bazar area as part of an effort to clear encroachments from the river’s protected floodplain zone. The action followed directions issued by the National Green Tribunal to restore and preserve the Yamuna’s floodplain ecosystem.
However, for the families now living in the open, legal and environmental considerations have done little to ease the uncertainty surrounding their future.
Many of those affected belong to communities of priests, boatmen, barbers and flower sellers whose livelihoods have for generations depended on the ghats and the pilgrims who visit them. Several families trace their roots at the site back five or six generations, with occupations closely linked to the traditional Jajmani system that tied service providers to specific communities and locations over long periods.
Residents say the demolition not only uprooted their homes but also severed their connection to the work that sustained them. Many claimed they had little time to gather belongings before structures were brought down.
Among the displaced are elderly residents who spent their entire lives along the riverbank and now face an uncertain future. Families were seen moving whatever possessions they could salvage, often without knowing where they would stay next.
Despite some residents possessing documents dating back more than a century, no rehabilitation or alternative housing arrangements have yet been announced for those affected.
As the summer heat and monsoon rains approach, many families remain on the streets asking a question that remains unanswered: where do they rebuild their lives from here?
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