Home / Environment / NGT Scolds Delhi Govt Over Yamuna Floodplain Demarcation
NGT Scolds Delhi Govt Over Yamuna Floodplain Demarcation
1 Mar
Summary
- NGT found Delhi govt's August 2026 deadline unreasonable.
- Tribunal ordered a fresh report with a shorter timeline.
- Ground truthing for floodplain demarcation is yet to be conducted.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has deemed the August 2026 deadline for demarcating Delhi's Yamuna floodplain as unreasonable. The tribunal has directed the Delhi government to present a revised report within two weeks, proposing a shorter and more practical timeline for the demarcation work along the 22km Yamuna stretch. This action follows the NGT's cognizance of media reports concerning flooding and delays in the demarcation process.
In a report submitted on December 5, 2025, the Delhi government outlined steps taken, including sharing Survey of India data and creating a preliminary map. However, the critical step of ground truthing has not yet been completed. A study awarded to CWPRS, Pune, faces technical limitations and a projected completion date of August 2026, which the NGT found excessively long, especially since ground truthing had been completed expeditiously in other states.
The NGT bench, led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, stressed that the exercise should rely on Survey of India's data and that ground truthing should be expedited. The government has been asked to re-examine the demarcation steps and ensure a swift ground-level exercise. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on March 25.
