Remove All Encroachments, Illegal Construction Near Yamuna: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court instructed the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to remove all encroachments and illegal construction on the Yamuna river bank, riverbed and drains flowing into the river. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela passed the order concerning the matter on July 8.
The ruling came as the court was listening to the petition seeking directions to pull down alleged unauthorised constructions on the banks of Yamuna river near Shaheen Bagh. The petition also urged the authorities to take steps to stop illegal constructions on the river bank and its floodplain in the future.
As per the order, the vice-chairman, also appointed as the nodal officer, shall coordinate with officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, the Public Works Department (PWD), the Delhi Pollution Control Board and the Forest Department for this purpose.
Besides, the court directed the officials to conduct a meeting of all concerned officers within a week. The vice-chairman should submit an action taken report within six weeks.
The counsel appearing for MCD assured the court that they would collaborate with DDA and DMRC in removing the encroachment and illegal constructions.
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The counsel for the authorities agreed that floodplain is an important component of the river ecosystem, and it is a “prohibited activity zone”. Therefore, any encroachment in the plain led to diversion of water resulting floods in nearby areas.
“They point out that many experts believe that floods in Delhi are man-made as they have been caused primarily due to encroachment of drains, river banks and river beds, thereby restricting the flow of water to Yamuna and in Yamuna,” The Indian Express reports, citing the order.
