Delhi's Steel Fence Initiative: Securing Yamuna's Future

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) announced plans to install a steel fence along an 11-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna floodplain, spanning from the Wazirabad barrage to the ITO barrage. This initiative aims to thwart encroachment and protect the vulnerable ecological area, according to officials.

The steel fencing project, set to cost Rs 18 crore, will be completed in four months by a contractor selected for the job. It forms part of a broader campaign to reclaim and safeguard the river's floodplain. Earlier this year, the DDA informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about reclaiming 24 acres of land previously encroached upon under the Yamuna Vanasthali project.

The fencing will help secure restored areas, including Yamuna Vatika and Asita, and empty patches on both banks of the river. Over the past two years, the DDA has developed several recreational spaces along the 22-kilometre Yamuna stretch, featuring parks and cafes spanning from Wazirabad to Okhla.

(With inputs from agencies.)