The National Green Tribunal has sought responses from civic authorities including the MCD, DDA, and others over allegations of unauthorised construction on the Yamuna floodplain near Majnu ka Tila in Delhi. The case will be heard next on April 20.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed multiple Delhi authorities to respond to a plea raising concerns about an alleged multi-storeyed illegal construction on the floodplain of the Yamuna river in the Majnu ka Tila area.
A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel passed the order on February 5 while hearing a letter petition filed by a resident of Wazirabad village. The petition claims that a high-rise structure is being erected in violation of environmental norms and in disregard of restrictions applicable to floodplain zones.
Calling the allegations “substantial issues” related to environmental compliance, the tribunal impleaded the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and the concerned District Magistrate as parties in the matter.
In its order, the tribunal stated:
“The registry is directed to serve the notice upon the above respondents for filing the response by way of affidavit. In the response affidavit, the district magistrate will disclose the details of the person who is undertaking the alleged construction and will also disclose if the said construction is on the flood plain of the river Yamuna.”
The NGT’s intervention underscores its ongoing vigilance in preventing encroachments and unauthorised developments in ecologically sensitive floodplain areas of the Yamuna, which are vital for Delhi’s environmental sustainability.
The matter is now listed for further proceedings on April 20.
