Delhi govt sets July 31 deadline to demarcate Yamuna floodplain after NGT rap

Times News NetworkNew Delhi: After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) rejected the Aug deadline for demarcating the Yamuna floodplain and directed a shorter timeline, Delhi govt has proposed completing the exercise by July 31.The tribunal had taken cognisance of media reports, including TOI, on flooding and delays in demarcating the Yamuna floodplain along the 22-km stretch from Wazirabad to Palla in Delhi.In a report dated March 23, Delhi govt said a review meeting chaired by the environment secretary was held on March 10 and 11. “DDA informed that the drawing has been received from the irrigation and flood control (I&FC) department. Based on this, ground truthing is to be carried out jointly with the revenue department. Feasible points will be fixed with bollards, and any issues encountered during ground truthing will be resolved in coordination with the department concerned. The work is likely to be completed by July 31,” the report said.On Feb 23, the NGT had directed Delhi govt to submit a fresh status report within two weeks with a shorter and more reasonable schedule. The tribunal said ground truthing, installation of pillars and floodplain demarcation had been completed expeditiously in other states soon after details were received from the Survey of India. “Therefore, we find that the timeline of Aug 2026 given in the reply is not a reasonable timeline,” the bench observed.Delhi govt also informed the tribunal that the DDA had reclaimed 1,426.6 acres of floodplain between May 2022 and Feb 2026 by removing encroachments.Citing a Joint Flood Management Committee report, the govt said the Nili Chharta stretch from Majnu Ka Tila to Nigam Bodh Ghat has been identified as a vulnerable zone where overtopping was observed during the 2023 flood. A Central Water Commission model has also indicated a likelihood of overtopping in the area during a 1-in-100-year flood event. In view of this, the I&FC department plans to construct a flood wall along the stretch to prevent floodwater ingress.