Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal on Wednesday reviewed the progress of ongoing projects for the restoration and rejuvenation of Yamuna riverfront and stressed on the need for time-bound completion of landscaping and plantation in the area to restore wetlands and riverine ecosystem.
The Lieutenant Governor has also directed the implementing agency that is Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to take steps for adequate surveillance and security of the area to protect the land from encroachments.
The meeting was attended by DDA vice chairman Manish Kumar Gupta and other senior officials. During the meeting, the LG has monitored the projects on Priority basis. “It would go a long way in not only achieving the much needed rejuvenation of the River, but will also provide the City with citizen friendly green and aesthetic landscape,” the official said.
“While appreciating the progress of the rejuvenation works undertaken so far, LG emphasized upon time bound completion of landscaping, greening and plantation in the area to restore wetlands and riverine ecosystem,” the official said.
“For the restoration and rejuvenation of the Yamuna floodplains under the jurisdiction of UP Irrigation Department, LG advised VC, DDA to work in close coordination with concerned authorities of UP Govt so as to ensure smooth execution of the project,” he said.
“Baijal emphasized upon proactively specifying provisions and norms for land requirement for utilities and services for optimum use of scarce land resources. LG also directed VC DDA to take steps for adequate surveillance and security of the area to protect the land from encroachments in future,” he added.
According to DDA, the projects which are currently in underway in the eastern banks are Asita East (DDA and UP area) which is stretched from the old railway bridge to the ITO barrage, within the area of 197 hectares, Yamuna Vanasthali which is spread in the area 236.5 hectares from Wazirabad to ISBT Bridge, Mayur Nature Park which is stretched from Nizamuddin Bridge to DND flyway, and the area of this projhect is around 397.75 hectares and Hindon Sarovar which is also located on Nizamuddin Bridge to DND flyway with in the area of 45 hectares.
The project from Nizamuddin Bridge to DND flyway is located at the western bank, spread at 100 hectares while Kalindi Biodiversity Park from DND to proposed Kalindi By-Pass is spread at 115 hectares.
The project Asita West which is divided into Part 1 and Part 2, (208 hectares) area from and is stretched from Old Railway Bridge to Geeta Colony Bridge and Geeta Colony Bridge to ITO Bridge, respectively.
The Ghat Area project stretched from Wazirabad to Old Railway Bridge with 236.5 hectares area. The Eco-tourism area stretched from Geeta Colony Bridge to ITO Bridge with 30 hectares area.
The other project is Amrut Biodiversity Park which is located on both the Eastern banks and the Western Banks, stretched fron New Railway Line to Nizamuddin Bridge, with area of 116.5 hectares.
Reviewed the progress of works of the restoration and rejuvenation of Yamuna Riverfront today with VC DDA, senior officials and experts. While appreciating the progress of the rejuvenation works undertaken so far, emphasized upon time bound completion of landscaping,” LG also tweeted.