Delhi govt sets November deadline to clear Yamuna floodplains of encroachments

The Delhi government has directed agencies to remove all encroachments from the Yamuna floodplains by November, as part of a 45‑point action plan for cleaning and rejuvenation of the river, officials said on Saturday. Yamuna cleanup is a flagship commitment of the BJP government. In its first budget, the government allocated ₹9,000 crore to the water and sewerage sector, officials noted.

The Yamuna traverses 52 km through Delhi; the 22 km stretch between Wazirabad and Okhla is the most polluted and remains the primary focus of planning and policy efforts.

Coordinated effort under chief minister’s plan
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta approved the action plan, which was discussed in a recent meeting chaired by the chief secretary. Key agencies involved include Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, and Delhi Development Authority (DDA), officials added.

DDA to remove floodplain encroachments
Under the plan, the DDA has been instructed to clear all encroachments—including illegal nurseries, unauthorised structures, waste dumping, squatters, and farming—along Yamuna floodplains in east, northeast, and south Delhi by November. Officials noted that anti-encroachment drives often face resistance due to lack of formal demarcation of floodplain zones. A DDA survey last year claimed that nearly two‑thirds of these floodplain areas had been encroached in recent years.

Past achievements and ongoing duties
In recent years, the DDA has reclaimed 224 acres of floodplain land and developed public green spaces such as Asita in East Delhi. In April, it told the National Green Tribunal that 24 acres were freed from encroachment under the Yamuna Vanasthali project between Wazirabad Barrage and ISBT Kashmere Gate.

Drain encroachments to be cleared
The action plan also targets encroachments in drains feeding into the Yamuna. The MCD, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and DDA are tasked with clearing stormwater drain encroachments, while MCD and I&FC departments will address encroachments along drain alignments.

Comprehensive project consolidation
Projects related to Yamuna rejuvenation have been grouped under ten working heads, including drains, sewage, solid waste management, enhancement of ecological flow, and stricter enforcement, each with specific deadlines.

(With inputs from PTI)