'Where will we go now?'

Mehram Nagar residents given 10 days to evacuate, infrastructure giant to develop village

The story of this village dates back to the days when the Mughal emperors used to lord over Delhi's sultanat, and all over India too. Back in Aurangzeb's reign, one of his generals built a mosque here. People started moving in soon after.


Mehram Nagar village near Delhi Airport.u00a0u00a0PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

But looks like all that is set to change. With the city progressing in leaps and bounds, the area is all set to develop, sans its original inhabitants. Its 10,000 plus residents have been served eviction notice by the Delhi Estate Office (DEO) and have been asked to leave in 10 days.

Being hopeful
Infrastructure giant GMR plans to develop the entire area around Palam Airport, under the guidance of DEO. "We are poor people, first my agricultural land was taken away in 1965 and now they plan to destroy our homes. My family has been living here for generations, I have spent my entire life here, where are we suppose to go now?" asks Suresh (68), weeping.

The villagers are already protesting the order. Local MLA Karan Singh Tanwar of the BJP had organised a fast on Monday and Tuesday and the fast might be extended. "We have full faith in our leader Karan Singh Tanwar. We know he will bring us justice. He is the only hope we have now," is what Sumit Sherawat had to say about the two-day fast. Local BJP leaders blasted the Congress for forceful acquisition of land, "On one hand the scion of the Congress party goes to show sympathy towards farmers in Uttar Pradesh and on the other hand so many people are being forced to go homeless," said a local BJP leader.

It's about economics
Mehram Nagar's economy is highly dependent on the Palam Airport. Running taxis and hotels in and around the airport is the main occupation of the people here. Brijesh Kumar, a local asks: "Even if the government shifts us to another locality, what will we do there? How will we earn our livelihood? Will there be education for our children? " Another resident, Rakesh, says: "The rent of flats build by the government in Mehram Nagar East during 1965 is a mere Rs 20 till date and that in Mehram Nagar West is Rs 9. We have not occupied the place illegally and have documents to prove our right over our land." However some locals did agree that some of Defence Ministry's land might be illegally occupied.