The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has been directed by the Delhi High Court to eliminate any encroachments and unlawful building from the Yamuna river’s bank, riverbed, and drains that flow into it.
While considering a plea seeking instructions to the DDA to demolish the unauthorized construction on the Yamuna riverbank and to further prevent the same in the future, a bench made up of acting chief justice Manmohan and justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the vice chairman (VC) of the DDA to remove all encroachments and illegal construction in its July 8 order, which was uploaded on Wednesday.
The bench ordered that the VC, who is also designated as the nodal officer, work with representatives of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the Delhi Police, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Public Works Department (PWD), the Delhi Pollution Control Board, and the Forest Department in order to coordinate. The directive stated, “…the Vice Chairman, DDA shall call a meeting of all the concerned officials within a week.”
The petitioner, Shabnam Burney, emphasized that the ecologically delicate plain was being jeopardized by unpermitted illicit building. “…it was also contributing to air pollution in the vicinity, which was causing respiratory issues for the nearby residents.”
Apoorv Kurup, the standing counsel for the central government, acknowledged that development in the floodplain causes water to be diverted, which causes flooding in nearby places. Kurup also emphasized that many experts think that the main reason of the capital’s floods was the encroachment of drains, riverbanks, and riverbeds, which hindered the flow of water into and out of Yamuna.
Through attorney Avishkar Singhvi, the Delhi government and police informed the court that they had written multiple representations to the DDA and MCD over unauthorized and unlawful development on the riverfront, asking for appropriate action.
While promising that the authorities would offer all necessary support, the attorney requested the court to issue directives.
The MCD’s advocate, Ajay Arora, gave the assurance that the municipal corporation would fully assist the DDA and DMRC in the removal.