Delhi HC orders removal of all illegal encroachments from Yamuna riverbank

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to remove all encroachments and illegal constructions on the Yamuna river bank, riverbed, and drains flowing into the river. The order, issued by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, was uploaded on Wednesday.

As per the reports, the directive was given in response to a plea seeking the demolition of unauthorized constructions on the Yamuna riverbank and measures to prevent future encroachments. The court has mandated the Vice Chairman (VC) of the DDA, who has been appointed as the nodal officer, to coordinate with officials from various departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Pollution Control Board, and the Forest Department. The VC is required to convene a meeting with all concerned officials within a week to address the issue.

Petitioner Shabnam Burney highlighted that illegal constructions without proper permissions were posing a threat to the ecologically sensitive area, contributing to air pollution, and causing respiratory problems for nearby residents. Central Government Standing Counsel Apoorv Kurup acknowledged that encroachments in the floodplain were diverting water flow and causing floods in adjacent areas. Kurup further emphasized that many experts attribute the floods in the capital to the encroachments on drains, riverbanks, and riverbeds, which restrict water flow.

The Delhi government and Delhi Police, represented by Advocate Avishkar Singhvi, informed the court that they had forwarded multiple representations concerning illegal constructions on the riverbank to the DDA and MCD for appropriate action. Advocate Ajay Arora, representing the MCD, assured the court that the municipal corporation would fully cooperate with the DDA and DMRC in the removal of the encroachments.

The court’s order is a significant step towards addressing the issue of unauthorized constructions and preserving the ecological balance of the Yamuna riverbank. The authorities have assured the court of their full cooperation in executing the directive.