Between 2019 and 2025, India has witnessed a significant increase in the demolition of houses and slums, often under the guise of urban development, encroachment removal, or city beautification. These actions have disproportionately affected marginalized communities, including Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis, and migrant workers. These demolition drives have raised significant legal and human rights concerns, particularly regarding the lack of proper rehabilitation and compensation for displaced individuals. Many affected communities have reported inadequate notice periods and insufficient support systems post-eviction
Notable Demolition Drives (2019–2025)
- Delhi (2023): Ahead of the G20 summit, over 1,600 homes were demolished, and 3,000 eviction notices were served. Many residents were displaced without rehabilitation or compensation. thehindu.com+1hindustantimes.com+1
- Mumbai (2024): Residents of the Saibaba Rehvasi Seva Sangh slum in Kandivali faced repeated demolitions, with many families left in limbo due to unclear rehabilitation policies. hindustantimes.com+1indianexpress.com+1
- Mumbai (2024): In Panchasheel Nagar, Govandi, approximately 250 tenements were demolished without proper documentation, leaving residents struggling to prove their eligibility for compensation. hindustantimes.com
- Kolkata (2025): The Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority initiated a plan to demolish unauthorized shanties under several canal bridges to prevent safety hazards, with an estimated budget of Rs 50 lakh. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Mumbai (2025): Proposals have emerged to reclassify land occupied by slums in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park area as non-forest to prevent the relocation of around 80,000 households. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The sudden rise reminds many for great demolition prior to National emergency - 1972-74 in metropolitan cities. The idea of SMART cities and AMRUT, has done away with inclusive development strategies adopted during the last 12th five year plan by Planning Commission (changed to NITI Aayog in 2015). The million plus households have suffered because of lack of alternative offered, accessible or eligible for new schemes proposed by the Central and State governments.
In the era of welfare state why do people have to be at mercy of the state? The right to shelter, seeking fundamental protection from the state is difficult to achieve. Many from the minority community (particularly Muslims) had been the first target but subsequently the poorest of the poor are removed from the streets and localities. The 'Slum being cancer to society' phenomenon of 1980s is back to haunt the poor being thrown out of city society and space.
