Urgent appeal over rampant encroachment of Yamuna floodplain near Delhi's Wazirabad barrage

By A Representative

The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has issued a scathing letter to top Delhi officials, including Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, highlighting "persistent abuse and encroachment" of the Yamuna floodplain on the eastern bank downstream of the Wazirabad Barrage. The letter, dated July 17, 2025, from Bhim Singh Rawat, Associate Coordinator of SANDRP, details extensive violations observed during a ground visit on July 15, 2025, and calls for immediate corrective action.

Rawat's letter, also addressed to the Vice-Chairman of DDA, the Minister for Irrigation & Flood Control, the Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, and the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, paints a grim picture of environmental degradation and disregard for regulations in a crucial ecological zone.

Key Concerns Raised in the Letter

- A new, approximately 5 km long and 6-meter-wide road has been constructed and recently paved with bitumen, effectively disconnecting the floodplain along its alignment. This road, which runs from Wazirabad crematoria to the Eastern Embankment near Usmanpur village, was reportedly built for Metro and Signature Bridge access. SANDRP argues its purpose has been served and it should be dismantled, with the land restored.

- A Metro casting yard, occupying over 13 acres of Yamuna floodplain for several years, is still in place. The letter demands its removal and the restoration of the land, currently covered in thick concrete and debris, back to native floodplain vegetation.

- Approximately 50 acres of low-lying floodplain opposite Kartar Nagar have been gradually reclaimed by extensive soil dumping, transforming it into a parking and crowd gathering site. Recent Google Earth imagery suggests an additional 20 acres have been covered, threatening a nearby water body.

- Construction waste is being illegally dumped and even concretized along the Wazirabad Road before it meets the Eastern Embankment at Khajuri Chowk. Furthermore, significant amounts of construction debris remain beneath the Metro bridge, extending to the riverbank, with the construction company allegedly evading responsibility for site restoration.

- A large silt dump on the western bank, where the Najafgarh drain meets the Yamuna, needs urgent removal before the flood season. Locals also report the river section under the Signature Bridge is easily crossable due to construction debris, warranting immediate investigation.

- An unused deep, narrow dredged channel created last year is causing riverbank erosion and poses a drowning risk, especially to children, when water levels rise.

- The riverbank and floodplain are littered with plastic waste, construction debris, concrete, and tar, indicating a complete lack of waste management and monitoring. In addition, the Nanaksar Gurudwara has allegedly created permanent structures by raising and leveling about 14 acres of floodplain land with massive soil dumping, with plans for further expansion seemingly overlooked by authorities.

- Finally, untreated effluent continues to be discharged into the river through two metal pipes downstream of Wazirabad, a recurring issue that remains unaddressed. The letter also points out that the July 2023 floods washed away "avoidable experiments" like plantations and artificial fish ponds downstream of Wazirabad barrage, leading to a wastage of public funds.

Violations and Environmental Impact

Rawat emphasized that these activities violate numerous National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and government regulations, reflecting a "concerning and disappointing state of affairs of floodplain protection in the national capital." He highlighted that the eastern floodplain, being lower, is vital for flood cushioning and groundwater recharge, and its continued abuse is destroying these critical functions.

Given the existing reduction in the floodplain's flood-carrying capacity due to linear and cross-sectional infrastructure projects, SANDRP urges immediate corrective and preventive actions to protect the remaining floodplain for the well-being of the Yamuna River, the environment, and the citizens of Delhi.

The letter concludes with a humble appeal to the concerned authorities to address the serious issues raised.

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