On May 22, the Delhi High Court while hearing seperate public interest petitions filed by two organisations had ordered the MCD and DDA to take appropriate action to remove all unauthorised encroachments in and around Jama Masjid within six weeks. The process is yet to begin.

Entering the Jama Masjid complex from the Red Fort side is in itself a herculean task as cars, vans, and hawkers literally block the route.

Ironically, there is a sign-board in Hindi, put up by the DDA, which states that parking is prohibited, nobody should be given any money for parking, and legal action will be taken against the violators. The actual scenario is quite the opposite.

Through this maze hundreds of people make it to the mosque daily for prayers. Says a local resident on condition of anonymity, ``This concrete path was so wide only a few years back. Now, vehicles have damaged it. I have to jostle my way through this chaos even to say my prayers.''The parking extends till Park no. 8. Adjacent to this park, there are about 20 unlicensed shops. Some houses have also been contructed alongside.

Alleges another resident, ``Go and see the immoral activities that are going on in the Urdu Park. The authorities know everything, but have turned a blind eye to the goings-on.''

In fact, a memorandum was submitted by the shopkeepers of Meena Bazaar to the Commissioner MCD, on April 21 this year, to draw his attention towards the the critical problems of the area. However, no action has been taken till date.

DDA has constructed 8 parks around the masjid complex. But, except for a board which mentions the park number and the rather deceptive message - plants are our friends - few of them any plants growing. Beggars and vagabonds have made them their home.

In front of a rather green park, which has an office of the Meena Bazaar Traders Association, materials like water pumps, refrigerators have been piled up. Facing this spot is Park No.4 around which extends the illegal market, turning the `park' into a dumping ground.

Nearby, is the night shelter building built by the Slum and Jhuggi Jhopri Department of the M.C.D. The ones who take shelter in the night however, keep all their belongings inside Park 5 and many have opened small shops.

``About 15 years back, the whole complex had fountains and water pools where we used to spend our time happily. But, all that is history now. All these so-called pools are dry,'' laments an elderly resident.

On the top of Meena bazaar, on the Urdu Bazar side, an unauthorized shop has sprung up. Tyres, motor parts etc lie scattered over a huge area. Adds another, ``Heaps of garbage lie unattended everywhere. There is no drainage system worth the name. Three years back, we were badly hit by dengue and plague and now we face an equally serious threat.''

Even the Maulana Shaukat Ali Park, close to the Dargah Hare Bhare, has not been spared. Rahat Open Surgery is the `open air' surgeon who has turned a large portion of this park into his own operation theatre - the board proclaims that he heals people afflicted ailments which qualified surgeons cannot handle! Chaos extends towards the Dariba Gate side also. Here, vehicles belonging mostly to tourist and traders are parked right on the road, although this is prohibited.

When contacted, the Naib Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, while strongly refuting the allegations against the Jama Masjid Trust that it had washed his hands off the issue, said that the trust was responsible only for the internal management of the Masjid.

He blamed the DDA, MCD and the Delhi Police for the present state of affairs.``If any problem arises during eviction, the authorities will be responsible for it,'' he adds.