L-G nod to only green projects for Yamuna

NEW DELHI: No construction will be allowed along and around the Yamuna River and the riverfront. Putting a stamp of approval on the draft zonal plan for river Yamuna - Zone O - at the Authority meeting of the DDA, lieutenant governor Tejendra Khanna made it clear that only greens will be developed in this zone and even sought substitution of the word recreational activity in areas demarcated for the purpose in the zone with green development.

At the meeting chaired by the L-G, who is also the chairperson of the Yamuna River Development Authority, it was asserted that all thermal power plants operating along the Yamuna would be shifted out before 2010 to eliminate pollution.

Earlier too, Khanna had ordered that no new constructions except for work on the Commonwealth Games Village could be carried out on the riverbed. The river authority, set up under the chairmanship of the L-G, is among the various committees reviewing the status of development in the area. The approval given to the draft zonal plan is subject to the findings of studies underway.

Following a detailed discussion on the draft zonal plan at the meeting attended by Delhi Urban Arts Commission chairman KT Ravindran and representative of INTACH in addition to the members of DDA, it was outlined that the objective of development of Zone-O was to augment water supply, contain pollution and land utilization in a manner to ensure eco-friendly development and maintain the river's ecosystem.

It was decided that only green development will be permitted and that too would be limited to specified projects like biodiversity parks, bird sanctuaries, geological parks etc.

On April 10, it was decided in the authority meeting that the draft zonal development plan for the area, prepared by the local body, should be reviewed. Now, the plan with a fresh set of amendments was presented before the authority with more area for recreational use and greens. "However, the authority concluded that the recreational use should be dropped as it could be misused for activities involving construction and setting-up of concrete structures," authority member Mahabal Mishra said.

For instance, while the earlier draft proposed land use of 175 hectares for future sports facilities south of NH-24, the amendments tabled proposed use of this land for recreational activities and green area. But going by Wednesday's meeting, this space will now be allocated for green development only.

Under the draft zonal plan, the Yamuna zone which includes the river, water bodies and the riverbed involves a spread of approximately 9,7OO hectares. The zonal plan takes into account measures for pollution abetment, land management, overall circulation network and broad land uses.

ambika.pandit@timesgroup.com