Archive · 4 Oct 2025
Delhi's Unequal Urban Landscape: Unauthorized Farmhouses and Villages
In Delhi, some areas called 'farmhouses' are actually luxurious homes for the wealthy, unlike farms.
Sainik Farm was originally for war veterans, but now wealthy people live there without proper permits.
These residents enjoy services others don't, like private water and electricity, while nearby Sangam Vihar struggles.
The government tried to help with a plan called PM-UDAY, but it left out the rich areas.
The original village of Deoli became Sangam Vihar after land changes.
The article shows how money impacts the environment, with green, leafy areas in wealthy neighborhoods and less green in others.
This creates a stark difference between the rich and those struggling for basic services.
"Farmhouses" in Delhi are luxury estates, not actual farms.
Sainik Farm was initially for defense personnel, but now houses affluent residents.
Sainik Farm is an unauthorized colony with privatized resources, contrasting with Sangam Vihar.
PM-UDAY scheme aims to regularize unauthorized colonies but excludes affluent ones.
Deoli village evolved into Sangam Vihar with a history of land acquisition and development.
- Who
- Ekta Chauhan, Vivek Mishra, residents of Sainik Farm and Sangam Vihar, and landowners of Deoli.
- What
- An examination of urban inequality in Delhi, focusing on the contrasting realities of affluent unauthorized colonies and neighboring villages, specifically Sainik Farm and Deoli/Sangam Vihar.
- When
- Since the 1950s, with a focus on developments from the 1960s to the present day.
- Where
- Delhi, specifically in areas like Sainik Farm and the village of Deoli/Sangam Vihar.
- Why
- To highlight the disparities in access to resources, living conditions, and the impact of land acquisition and regularization policies.
Residents of Sangam Vihar
Residents of Sainik Farm
Regularization of Colonies
Residents of Sangam Vihar
Advocating for regularization under PM-UDAY to access state benefits.
Residents of Sainik Farm
Some do not want regularization, citing the incompetence of the government.
- Location of Farmhouses
- Sainik Farm, Chhatarpur, Sultanpur, Mehrauli
- Original Purpose of Sainik Farm
- Housing for defense personnel
- Year Sainik Farm declared unauthorized
- 1993
- Scheme for Unauthorized Colonies
- PM-UDAY
- Excluded Colonies from Ownership Rights
- Affluent Unauthorized Colonies
- Original Name of Deoli
- Devalgarh
- Village Land in 1987
- Most notified under Section 4 and Section 6