The Delhi Forest Department has issued notices to hundreds of residents in southwest Delhi's Aya Nagar, asking them to "vacate" the forest land they have "encroached" over the years.
Residents claim that the notice was issued to around 500 house owners, who have been living in the area for more than 30 years.
The notice said the area concerned was declared "reserved forest" through a notification dated May 24, 1994, and the residents had encroached on the land in violation of Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act 1927.
The notice dated August 3 said the encroachers should vacate the forest land within seven days, after which the structures will be demolished and all material found will be seized.
As the deadline ended on Thursday, the forest department said it has not started the demolition drive yet. It did not divulge more information.
The notice has been issued in accordance with the directions of the National Green Tribunal, which had in January last year asked the city government to take necessary action to protect the ridge area.
Residents said the area was declared "reserved forest" in 1994 without actual ground truthing.
"People have been living here since 1980s. They (authorities) never issued such a notice in the past. Now, they say we should vacate it in seven days," a resident said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Man On Cycle Dies After Branch Of Tree Falls On Him In Delhi: Cops Delhi Resident Finds Pro-Pak Slogans On Walls, Confronts Home Owner AAP vs Lt Governor Over Shortage Of Doctors In Delhi Government Hospitals Iran Could Attack Israel Today, Netanyahu Eyes Preemptive Strike: Report After 60-Km Chase, Parsvnath Landmark CEO Arrested From Delhi Airport Anti-Immigration Protests Rage In UK, "You Will Regret," Warns Starmer Flood Fury In Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde To Visit Affected Areas In Pune Sensex Slides Over 1,500 As Jobs Data Sparks Recession Fears In US US Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Lice Spotted In Woman's Hair Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.