Home / Environment / Delhi Loses 6 Waterbodies to Encroachment, Tribunal Finds
Delhi Loses 6 Waterbodies to Encroachment, Tribunal Finds
27 Oct
Summary
- 6 of 28 Delhi waterbodies under forest dept. no longer exist
- Missing sites covered 40,000 sq m, about 6 football fields
- Encroachment and unauthorized construction blamed for disappearance
In a concerning development, the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that 6 out of the 28 waterbodies under its jurisdiction no longer exist as of October 2025. The missing sites, which once covered an area of roughly 40,000 square meters—about the size of six football fields—ranged from small village ponds to mid-sized wetlands.
The disclosure was made in a status report submitted to the NGT, which had initiated a suo motu case following a media report highlighting the disappearance of waterbodies across the National Capital. The verification exercise ordered by the tribunal revealed that the lost sites, located in areas such as Asola, Maidan Garhi, Shahurpur, Chhattarpur, and Shastri Park, have been encroached upon and replaced by unauthorized construction, including farmhouses and housing clusters.
For instance, the largest of the missing waterbodies, spanning nearly 20,000 square meters in Asola, has been completely taken over by dry land with no visible signs of a depression or standing water. Similarly, the Maidan Garhi and Shahurpur ponds, each measuring around 1,500 square meters, have been entirely encroached by a farmhouse and built-up structures, respectively.
The forest department has cited encroachment and unauthorized construction as the primary causes behind the disappearance of these vital wetlands. While some of the remaining 22 waterbodies are in good condition, at least 8 of them are described as containing shallow water, either due to seasonal variations or siltation. The department has been carrying out routine desilting and bunding to maintain these dwindling water bodies.
The loss of these wetlands is a significant concern for Delhi's environment, as they play a crucial role in groundwater recharge, flood mitigation, and supporting biodiversity. The NGT's intervention and the forest department's findings highlight the urgent need to protect and restore the city's vanishing water bodies.
