Delhi High Court Orders Removal Of Encroachments On Yamuna Riverbank

The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to clear all encroachments and illegal constructions on the Yamuna riverbank, river bed, and drains flowing into the river. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela appointed the DDA Vice Chairman as the nodal officer to coordinate with various authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police, Delhi Metro, and others, to remove the encroachments.

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The court ordered the DDA Vice Chairman to convene a meeting with all concerned officials within a week and submit an action taken report within six weeks.

The directive came in response to a petition filed by Shabnam Burney, seeking the demolition of illegal constructions on the Yamuna riverbank and prevention of further encroachment on the riverbank and flood plains. The government counsel argued that the flood plain area is a prohibited activity zone and essential to the river ecosystem, and that encroachment causes reduced water flow, leading to flooding in adjacent areas.

The court acknowledged that experts attribute Delhi’s flooding to encroachment on drains, riverbanks, and river beds, obstructing the Yamuna’s water flow. Consequently, the court ordered the removal of all encroachments from the Yamuna river and its surrounding areas to restore the river’s ecosystem and prevent further flooding.