In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has intensified its scrutiny of the efforts (or lack thereof) by various Delhi authorities concerning the cleaning of the Yamuna river. On Monday, a judicial bench consisting of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued directives to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi government, and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) to delineate the boundaries of Samaypur Badli and draft a new redevelopment plan.
This directive emerged during a suo motu proceeding [Court on its own Motion v. Union of India & Ors]. The court emphasized the critical need for redevelopment to prevent untreated sewage from contaminating the Yamuna. Justice Singh remarked, “Redevelopment of these areas is absolutely essential to ensure that untreated sewage water does not flow into Yamuna. This fact has to be appreciated by all the authorities.”
Previously, the court had tasked the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) with presenting a comprehensive action plan for all 37 sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city. Furthermore, the DSIIDC was instructed to convene a meeting and report on the redevelopment of industrial plots and regions. It was disclosed that 27 industrial areas in Delhi were non-conforming, with the DSIIDC actively working on their redevelopment.
Three consultant architect agencies have been engaged to survey and create redevelopment plans, with collaboration among DSIIDC, MCD, and DDA for examining layout plans. As of today, redevelopment plans for 25 non-conforming areas have been submitted, with Samaypur Badli and Phirni Road in Mundka still pending.
The court expressed dissatisfaction with the DDA’s failure to approve the submitted plans, describing the situation as a “complete stalemate.” The DDA has been instructed to meet with other involved authorities by August 31 to establish a timeline for authorizations, particularly for the installation of sewer lines and stormwater drains.
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Justice Singh’s frustration was palpable, “We have been managing this matter for one year and Samaypur Badli is sleeping. Everybody is sitting in luxury.” This sentiment was echoed in response to an application from the Rural Area Manufacturers Association, which highlighted that the current zonal development plans were not being considered for redevelopment.
The court ordered the DDA, Delhi Industries Ministry, MCD, and DSIIDC to review the application and clearly define Samaypur Badli’s boundaries to facilitate a fresh redevelopment strategy. “Some industries are feeling that their areas have been left out from development. The government will have to go there and do a physical inspection of the area. You can’t keep passing the buck,” Justice Singh reiterated.
Regarding Mundka, the DSIIDC was tasked with formulating a new plan. The court also noted the progress of 11 upgraded STPs and the commissioning of 28 new ones by the DJB, with 13 additional STPs underway. However, several issues related to the upgradation and creation of new STPs remain unresolved. The local commissioner highlighted that partially treated water is being re-contaminated with untreated water due to inadequate drainage infrastructure.
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“This aspect has to be given top priority when tenders are floated,” the court emphasized. The matter is scheduled for a subsequent hearing on September 25.
