(Feature Image: Experts object elevation work on Yamuna floodplain in North East Delhi. Source: ToI, March 29, 2024)
This is an open letter to concerned government officials regarding restoration of Yamuna floodplain illegally raised and levelled by Forest Department, Delhi and DDA at Bela Farm near Shashtri Park, Delhi.
To, 20 April 2024
1. Shri Vanai Kumar Saxena,
Lieutenant Governor, Delhi.
2. Shri Subhasish Panda, IAS
Vice Chairman, DDA.
3. Shri Gopal Rai,
Minister Environment, Forest and wildlife, Delhi.
4. Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj,
Minister Flood Control, Delhi.
Respected Sirs,
Restore Yamuna Floodplain Raised by Illegal Soil Dumping near Shashtri Park, Delhi
This is to inform you that a significant portion of Yamuna floodplains has been levelled and raised by several meters at Bela farm adjoining Yudhister Setu (bridge) and Pushta Road near Shashtri Park in East Delhi. (Annexure 1: Amar Ujala Images & news clip, March 31, 2024)
The act is done in clear defiance of National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) landmark January 2015 order “Maili Se Nirmal Yamuna” reportedly by the Forest Department of Delhi. (Annexure 2: Link to NGT “Maili Se Nirmal Yamuna” order)
It is learnt that Delhi Development Authority (DDA) which is in custodian of Yamuna floodplains and among key government departments with important responsibility to implement the NGT order in letter and spirit had allotted around 19.5 hectare of floodplain land to Forest Department, Delhi for compensatory plantation purpose. (Annexure 3: Link to Times of India, Delhi news report 29 March 2024)
The said plantation site is a low-lying area of floodplain which is filled by annual floods making it a natural water body. This site had been inundated by floods during historic flood spell in Yamuna in July 2023 causing damages to the plantation site and work. Hence, to protect the plantation from damages the Forest Department carried out the illegal act by dumping hundreds of truckloads of soil. (Annexure 4: Amar Ujala news clip, March 31, 2024)
It must be noted that the DDA has not publicly shared information whether it has given any permission to the Forest Department to raise Yamuna floodplain land at the site. The Forest Department has also remained silent on the matter.
This shows that the concerned officials from both the governmental bodies are equally culprit in violating the NGT order as per which dumping of any kind is explicitly prohibited on Yamuna floodplain.
In fact, the Sentinel satellite image of July 13, 2023 shows the site in question fully submerged under flood waters. Raising of Yamuna floodplain at the site has definitely compromised the flood spreading, absorption and carrying capacity of river which amounts to destruction of natural flood cushion gifted to Delhi by the Yamuna and has potential to invite flood threats to adjoining areas in near future. (Annexure 5: Comparison of Sentinel Satellite imageries from13 July 2023 and 19 March 2024)
The flood level map of 2011 by Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I&FC), Delhi also shows the entire floodplain span at the site is covered by flood waters. The inundation and damages to the plantation site irrefutably explains that the portion is an active part of floodplain and completely unsuitable for any kind of plantation activities. Moreover, this episode is a clear reminder to policy makers who have been ill-advised to plan and carry out compensatory plantation on Yamuna floodplain. (Annexure 6: I&FC Flood level Map 2011)
The concerned government officials must read this article titled “Please keep your tree Plantations away from River Floodplains” by celebrated Yamuna defender Late Manoj Misra, Convenor, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA) and person behind landmark NGT order listing out scientific reasons on why plantation in Yamuna floodplain is ecologically misplaced notion. (Annexure 7: Link of Manoj Misra’s article)
Additionally, the particular location -as shown in bird’s eye view of Google Earth image – is among the few remaining floodplain stretches in Delhi allowing free and maximum spread of monsoonal floods. This portion has capacity to accommodate the high volume of flood waters. Thus, it not only provides safety against flood threats and damages but also facilitates recharge of precious groundwater for the city.
The western bank of the river Yamuna opposite the site is geographically higher and already heavily built. In such conditions, the natural gradient of river and inclination of flood waters is towards the eastern part of floodplain and the site is prone to annual flooding events.
It is worth mentioning the floodplain width is about 2.5 km at the site while just downstream the width is hardly restricted to half the width on account of various constructional activities including Metro Depot, IT Park and series of bridges. (Annexure 7: Google Earth image of the location)
Only in July 2023, Delhi witnessed unprecedented flood spell in Yamuna, which reinforces the significance of keeping river floodplain free from any kind of encroachment and abuse including levelling, raising and dumping.
The illegal act of DDA and Forest Departments has damaged the original topography of Yamuna floodplain, compromised the river flooding patterns and increased flood threats for the city.
Hence, you are requested to direct the concerned officials for restoring the original status of floodplain at Bela farm near Shashtri Park in East Delhi by undoing the raising and removing the soil dumping at the site on urgent basis.
Kindly, set up departmental inquiry against the involved officials and take appropriate actions accordingly. Kindly, take measures to make DDA and Forest Department officials aware of NGT order and importance of protecting Yamuna floodplain from abuse and encroachments.
Kindly direct the DDA to facilitate revival and protection of original floodplain vegetation which is the actual restoration of floodplain of Yamuna and stop allotment of Yamuna floodplain land for compensatory plantation activity which affects the floodplain ecology in adverse manner and has apparently become a contentious mechanism for further abuse and encroachment of floodplain.
Kindly, also set up independent panel to study the present status of compensatory plantation work done so far on Yamuna floodplain in Delhi including total land allotted, species planted, budget spent, flood impacts on plants and plantation sites and overall impact of plantation on Yamuna floodplain ecology and hydrology.
Given the gravity of the issue and importance of protecting Yamuna floodplains in Delhi, I hope you will positively respond to the matter as soon as possible and get the floodplain at Bela farm restored to its natural status by removing the soil dumping before the upcoming monsoon season.
Yours Sincerely!
Bhim Singh Rawat,
Associate Coordinator,
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People
Annexure 1: Amar Ujala Images, March 31, 2024 of illegal soil dumping at Bela farm, floodplain.
This Amar Ujala image of the site shows the soil dump site submerged by floods in July 2023.
Annexure 2: Link to NGT “Maili Se Nirmal Yamuna” order
Annexure 3: Link to Times of India, Delhi news report 29 March 2024
Annexure 4: Amar Ujala news clip, March 31, 2024
Annexure 5: Comparison of Sentinel Satellite imageries from13 July 2023 and 19 March 2024
Annexure 6: I&FC Flood level Map 2011
Annexure 7: Link of Manoj Misra’s article
Annexure 8: Google Earth image of the location
Copies for kindly consideration of:
1. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. mefcc@gov.in; ps2mefcc@gov.in
2. Shri A. K. Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary (Environment & Forest), Delhi. singh.anilkr@nic.in; senv@nic.in
3. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti. minister-jalshakti@gov.in; chirag.panchal@gov.in
4. Shri Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary DoWR, RD & GR. secy-mowr@nic.in
5. Shri Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General, NMCG. dg@nmcg.nic.in
6. Shri Bharat Kumar Sharma, Member Secretary, CPCB. mscb.cpcb@nic.in
7. Dr. K.S Jayachandran, Member Secretary, DPCC. msdpcc@nic.in
8. Shri Somnath Bharti, Voice Chairman, Delhi Jal Board. office@somnathbharti.com
9. Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Delhi. ceifcd@gmail.com
10. Director, Flood Forecast Monitoring Department, Central Water Commission (CWC). fmdte@nic.in
11. Executive Engineer, Upper Yamuna Division, CWC. uydybo-cwc@nic.in
12. Chief Engineer, Yamuna Basin Organization, CWC. ceybo-cwc@nic.in
13. Shri Kamal Kishore, Head of the Department, National Disaster Management Authority. ecretary@ndma.gov.in; kkishore@ndma.gov.in
14. Prof. C.R. Babu, Honorable Member, NGT Principal Committee. rb26@hotmail.com; crbabu26@gmail.com
15. Prof. A. K. Gusain, Honorable Member, NGT Principal Committee. gosain@civil.iitd.ac.in; akgosain@gmail.com
SANDRP 