New Delhi: Calling the Aug 2026 deadline for the demarcation of the Yamuna floodplain in Delhi unreasonable, National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi govt to submit a fresh report within two weeks with a shorter and more reasonable schedule.
The tribunal earlier took cognisance of media reports, including of TOI, on flooding and delay in the demarcation of the floodplain along the 22km Yamuna stretch from Wazirabad to Palla in Delhi.
In a report dated Dec 5, 2025, which was submitted to NGT, Delhi govt outlined steps taken towards compliance with earlier tribunal directions requiring the demarcation in line with the criteria adopted for the Ganga.
The report added that the irrigation & flood control department shared Survey of India data with Geospatial Delhi Limited, which prepared a preliminary PDF map superimposing one-metre contours over the 1:100-year floodplain boundary. However, no ground truthing has been conducted yet. The study awarded to Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, faced technical limitations due to data gaps and the completion has been projected for Aug 2026, the report stated.
NGT observed that the work assigned to CWPRS might not have much relevance for the floodplain demarcation since the exercise was required to be completed based on Survey of India's data. "We find that for other stretches in other states, the exercise of completing the ground truthing, putting of pillar and demarcation of floodplain of the river at the ground level has been completed expeditiously without any delay after receipt of the details from Survey of India. Therefore, we find that the timeline of Aug 2026 given in the above reply is not a reasonable timeline," said the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava in an order dated Feb 23.
The bench asked Delhi govt to re-examine the steps to be taken for the demarcation and undertake an expeditious exercise at the ground level as the details have been received from Survey of India. It also asked Delhi govt to file a fresh report within two weeks with a shorter timeline. The matter will be next heard on March 25.
Priyangi Agarwal writes on environmental and climate change issue...
Read MorePriyangi Agarwal writes on environmental and climate change issues, connecting these topics to the everyday lives of people. She tracks developments across the capital’s transport hubs—Delhi Metro, Namo Bharat Trains, and Delhi Airport—while also reporting on pressing social issues. Her stories blend data analysis with voices from the ground to tell human-centred narratives. Previously stationed in western Uttar Pradesh, she focused her coverage on minority issues, health, and human rights.
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