New Delhi, Aug 31: The Delhi High Court has directed the DDA to take appropriate steps to maintain and develop the area near Ahimsa Marg, village Rajapur in Rohini in west Delhi as a green area.
The direction came from a division bench of Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmad on a petition by 14 villagers under the auspices of Rajapur Lokhit Vikas Manch seeking removal of illegal encroachments from the locality.
In their petition filed through counsel O P Saxena, the villagers had alleged that due to a nexus between DDA officials, local politicians and unscrupulous traders, a large area meant to be maintained as "green" had been encroached upon by traders who constructed an illegal market over there.
The petitioners had pointed out that at least on three earlier occasions the encroachers were removed and illegal buildings demolished, but some traders again raised constructions on the same place in connivance with DDA officials.
Contending that directions had already been issued by the court regarding this very unauthorised market, the counsel for DDA and NCT Delhi requested the bench not to pass any further order in the matter.

However, observing that DDA was bound to take action in accordance with the law, the bench asked it to discharge its duty of maintaining the area as a green belt as per the master plan and the zonal plan of the area.
Bureau Report