The Hindu : New Delhi News : “How can Govt. save Yamuna without its data?”

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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“How can Govt. save Yamuna without its data?”

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Most of the Delhi departments wash their hands of an NGO query on Yamuna flood plains

The query does not pertain to this department: MCD
Not the custodian of land of the river: Irrigation and Flood Control Department

NEW DELHI: Close to Rs.1,500 crore and a flood of plans have gone into resuscitating the Yamuna. But when it comes to determining the area of the Yamuna flood plains, the Government and its agencies seem quite at sea.

By all accounts the Government and its various departments are unable to verify the total area of the flood plains and how much of it is meant for development, including construction.

This became clear when an employee of a non-government organisation, Tapas, filed an application under the Right to Information Act, eliciting information from various departments about the flood plains. The answers ranged from absurd to elusive.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was quick to point out, “…the Yamuna flood plain does not pertain to this department”, while the Irrigation and Flood Control Department claimed to have done its bit for the river.

The Department said: “In this connection, it is pertinent to mention that the Irrigation and Flood Control Department is entrusted only with the work of maintenance of embankments on both sides of the river to protect Delhi territory against the fury of floods. It has no control over any other activity taking place in the river as the department is not the custodian of land of the river.”

Laying the onus on the Delhi Development Authority, the department says: “Since the DDA is the landowning agency and as such it is its duty to see for any construction work taking place in the riverbed whether authorised or unauthorised. However, in case any permanent structure is required to be constructed by any Government department inside the river, it needs clearance from the Yamuna Standing Committee headed by the Central Water Commission.”

The DDA reply read: “It is observed that you have applied as an office-bearer of an NGO and not as an individual therefore to the best of my knowledge not entitled to apply under RTI Act, 2005. However, the information is given as…” The DDA then proceeded to say: “The Master Plan for Delhi and draft zonal development plan of zone O and part P (river Yamuna area) has been published by DDA, which provides broad guidelines for developments in the river Yamuna. Copy of the Master Plan/ draft zonal development plan is available at the DDA’s website…”

While it does not answer how much of the flood plains can be used for development, it mentions in the website that itstretches to 9,700 hectares, including the river. The Delhi Jal Board, which is heavily dependent on the Yamuna for water, washed its hands of the issue and referred the matter to the Central Water Commission.

For its part, the Central Water Commission too dodged out: “…It is to say that flood management being a State subject, management of flood plains rests with the State Government concerned. Since the river Yamuna passes through Himachal, U. P., Haryana and Delhi, therefore, details of development activities include in their respective areas…”

“This shows that none of the agencies is serious about saving the river. Nobody knows the area of the flood plains, a notified and an important recharge area. How can the Government and its agencies talk of saving the river when they are unaware of the extent of the flood plains,” asked Vinod Jain, founder-chairman of Tapas.

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