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Slum demolitions in Delhi since the 1990s: An appraisal

The redevelopment and beautification of the capital for the making of a "world-class city' have entailed a heavy cost in terms of slum demolitions. A survey documenting the change of land use that has taken place on the sites of demolished slum clusters highlights the emerging processes and trends. Some of its findings question the stated principle of the Delhi slum policy, namely, the removal and relocation of squatter settlements only when the land is required to implement projects in the "larger public interest'. The preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games further provides the urban authorities with an opportune context to "clean up' the city from its slums.