Bulldozers Destroy Yamuna Floodplains for Chhath Puja Preparations

In the lead-up to the Chhath Puja festival in Delhi, the Yamuna floodplains have become the site of significant environmental concerns. As of October 25, 2025, several of the 17 ghats being developed for the four-day festival appear to be in clear violation of National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives that prohibit construction and alteration of floodplains.

A recent inspection of six of these sites has revealed widespread use of heavy machinery, including bulldozers and earthmovers, to carry out extensive digging, leveling, and compacting of the land. The natural vegetation, including tall grass, shrubs, and trees, has been completely removed from the fragile ecosystem. At one ghat near the Old Railway Bridge, a nearly 500-meter-long road has been built across the floodplains using gravel and rocks, while at another site near the DND flyover, depressions in the terrain are being filled with soil.

Environmental experts have warned that these activities could lead to the loss of wetlands and irreversible damage to the Yamuna floodplains' natural ecosystem. The NGT had previously imposed a fine of ₹5 crore on the organizers of the controversial 2016 Art of Living cultural festival held on the floodplains, citing similar concerns. Despite the clear directives, the ongoing preparations for the Chhath Puja festival appear to be repeating the same pattern of ecological destruction.