NGT Directs Meeting to Resolve Floodplain Demarcation in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal has mandated a meeting between Delhi's Environment Department, DDA, and I&FC officials to resolve the ongoing dispute over the demarcation of flood-prone areas along the Yamuna River. This directive follows reports highlighting delays in defining these critical boundaries. The tribunal has set a timeline for progress reports and emphasized adherence to established standards for floodplain management. The next hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, as the DDA works to implement previous directives and address the challenges posed by revised mapping.
| Jul 20, 2026, 16:05 IST
NGT's Directive to Resolve Floodplain Boundaries
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Chief Secretary of the Delhi government's Environment Department to convene a joint meeting with officials from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department within a week. This directive was issued by the bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Srivastava and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmed while hearing two cases initiated based on media reports regarding the ongoing issue of defining the flood-prone areas of the Yamuna in Delhi.
CJP Protest: Tensions Erupt as Protesters Clash with Police
The tribunal has also mandated that the DDA submit a progress report at least one week prior to the next hearing. Additionally, the I&FC department is required to file an affidavit clarifying the matter within the same timeframe. The next hearing is scheduled for September 18, 2026. During the proceedings, the DDA informed the tribunal that it had submitted a progress report indicating that it received a revised floodplain map from the I&FC department via email dated June 6, 2026. According to the DDA, 'Geo Special Delhi Limited' had prepared a GIS-based draft map using one-meter contour data obtained from the Survey of India and a 1:100-year flood map. This map was created to delineate the boundaries of a 22-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna between the Wazirabad and Okhla barrages.
Police Detention of Abhijeet Dipke: Details Revealed
The DDA stated that it had begun implementing the tribunal's previous directives based on the original map and had initiated the installation of boundary bollards. Out of the proposed 277 bollards, 206 had already been installed before the revised map was received. The DDA noted that work was later halted as it might require removing and reinstalling the previously placed bollards based on the new map. The tribunal emphasized that the demarcation of the floodplain should be conducted under the 'Ganga River (Rejuvenation, Conservation, and Management) Authority Order, 2016,' which outlines specific standards, including one-meter contours and a 1:100-year flood level. The tribunal requested the I&FC department to explain why a revised map was issued during the ongoing process if the demarcation work had already commenced based on these standards.