The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed Delhi authorities to delineate the Yamuna floodplain over a 22-km area from Wazirabad to Palla as per legal requirements. The tribunal emphasized that man-made embankments should not define floodplain boundaries. A bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, with Expert Members Dr. A. Senthil Vel and Dr. Afroz Ahmad, addressed issues related to floodplain demarcation and encroachments along the Yamuna.
The Delhi government submitted a status report indicating the preparation of a draft floodplain map using GIS technology based on one-meter contour data and flood boundary maps. This map was shared with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for on-site demarcation and installation of boundary markers. Ground-truthing and bollard placement are expected to be finalized by July 31, 2026, as per the report.
Efforts to clear encroachments from the floodplain have resulted in the reclamation of 1,426.6 acres of land between May 2022 and February 2026. The DDA has taken possession of the reclaimed land, with continuous removal of encroachments ongoing. The NGT acknowledged a proposal by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to build a flood wall from Majnu Ka Tila to Nigam Bodh Ghat to prevent floodwater ingress but stressed that such structures should not define floodplain limits.
