Urban Development Ministry asks DDA not to carry demolition drive in winter

NEW DELHI: A day after a political slugfest broke out over slum demolition issue, Union urban development ministry directed the Delhi Development Authority to put a hold on all demolitions in the city till winter is over.

The DDA has been told not to carry out any further demolition till the winter period is over, according to sources in the ministry.

"DDA Chairman has been told to do the needful for banning all demolitions in the winter months. It has been done to prevent people from hardship during the winter months," the sources added.

The action follows the demolition drive by Railways in West Delhi's Shakur Basti area where a seven-month-old infant was killed on Saturday, triggering a political storm over the incident.

While the Railways said child had died before demolition, the AAP-led Delhi government claimed that the death took place during the drive.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had yesterday met Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and got assurance that no further demolition on railway land will take place without rehabilitation of the affected persons.