Thread on the discriminatory practices of the government and Supreme Court. The map below shows Khori Gaon (in red) and its neighbours (in green). Only Khori Gaon will be demolished and has seen multiple waves of demolition from 2012 but not the others. (1/n) 
(2/n) This part of the Aravallis, called the Southern Ridge, had witnessed heavy quarrying from the 1950s. The forest edge had not been marked for a long time, and since it has changed considerably due to urbanisation, there is no clear demarcation where the forest starts or ends
(3/n) Why is only Khori Gaon considered an encroacher? Who decides where the forest edge ends? The only territorial marker present here is the wall built at the edge of Asola Bhatti Sanctuary (in yellow), which Khori Gaon has not transgressed.
(4/n) Some of the early residents are the families of the quarry workers who settled here during the 1970s. Later, most residents moved here from Delhi when their houses were demolished for urban projects and others for a lack of affordable housing.
(5/n) Regarding encroachment - the residents of Khori Gaon are not squatters. They are not occupying land without paying. They have bought their plots from the gangs who operate here, and the government is well aware of that.
(6/n) The environmental degradation argument now - the government allowed mining from the 1950s and only stopped after the Supreme court's orders in the late 1990s. Nonetheless, illegal quarrying continued till 2009.
(7/n) The area where Khori Gaon stands now stopped being a forest in the 1950s, and that is because of the government. If Khori Gaon residents are guilty of anything, it is settling on quarry land and not forest land.
(8/n) How conveniently can the government change its stance? This is a case of appropriation of the environmental argument to unhouse the poor without compensation.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
