The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a report published in The Hindu highlighting that the demarcation of the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi— a basic step to help identify and protect its sensitive ecosystem from encroachment— is incomplete nine years after it ordered the authorities to do it.
The next hearing over the issue has been fixed for August 7.
The report had mentioned that while the Delhi government had claimed in its submissions to the NGT that “100% physical demarcation of a major stretch of the floodplains city has been done”, visits to the sites in question and interviews with officials have confirmed that major gaps persist.
This move by the NGT underscores the importance of protecting the Yamuna floodplains, which are crucial for maintaining the ecological balance and preventing encroachments. The Tribunal’s intervention is expected to expedite the completion of the demarcation process, ensuring that the floodplains are adequately safeguarded.
