400ha encroachments at floodplains cleared in 2 years: DDA to NGT
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has stated that it has removed encroachments from more than 400 hectares of Yamuna floodplains over the last two years, adding that the area for 10 redevelopment projects along the river that it is set to undertake is now almost free of trespassers, barring land under litigation.
DDA made the statement in a status report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on encroachments on the floodplains.
“It is respectfully submitted that from June 2022 till date, DDA has freed 991.85 acres or 401.4 hectares of land on the Yamuna floodplains from encroachment by demolishing illegal structures, including jhuggis, religious structures, dairies, playing fields and cultivation,” DDA said in a submission dated July 13.
The authority said that encroachment drives are being regularly carried out in the floodplains with the help of Delhi Police, but land encroached upon at Majnu Ka Tilla by Pakistani Hindus has not been recovered as the Delhi high court has imposed a stay there.
NGT began hearing a petition filed in 2019, where a Delhi resident alleged that the floodplains to the south of Majnu Ka Tila have been encroached upon and were being damaged.
On July 11, the Delhi high court criticised DDA, and in a separate case directed the authority to remove all encroachments and illegal construction on the Yamuna riverbank, riverbed, and drains flowing into the river and submit a report on the same.
DDA’s submission to NGT further showed that out of the 10 major redevelopment projects being undertaken on more than 1,600 hectares of the Yamuna floodplains, four were completely free of encroachments, with others having encroached land that included land under litigation.
The highest amount of land under litigation — over 100 hectares — was at the site being redeveloped into the 397.75-hectare Mayur Nature Park.
This is followed by 27 hectares at Kalindi Biodiversity Park, and 17.8 hectares at Kalindi Aviral. Around 15.7 hectares is encroached upon at the 236.5 hectares area for Yamuna Vanasthali, out of which 13 hectares was under litigation.
Of the different ghats being developed on the floodplains over 66 hectares, 4.9 hectares was left under encroachment, with 0.25 hectares under litigation.
“A drive to free up the area not under litigation will be conducted soon,” DDA said, adding that at the site for Amrut Biodi
ACTIVIST BHIM SINGH RAWAT SAID DDA WAS STILL OVERLOOKING OTHER OBVIOUS ENCROACHMENTS ON THE FLOODPLAINS
versity Park, 0.5 hectares was left under encroachment, which too was under litigation.
Bhim Singh Rawat, a Yamuna activist and member of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People said though removing such encroachments was a welcome move, DDA was still overlooking other obvious encroachments on the floodplains.
“We have recently seen a casting yard come up along the floodplains at Sarai Kale Khan. Similarly, despite directions to restore the floodplain land of the Millenium bus depot, as per Delhi high court and Supreme Court orders, little work has been done there. It is easy to remove farmers from the floodplains, but the Delhi Development Authority needs to ensure other projects, particularly dumping of waste and debris, along the floodplains is stopped,” said Rawat.