DDA holds 9th MPD 2047 consultation on Yamuna, green-blue infrastructure
For a city that has long treated the Yamuna as something to be managed rather than owned, the Delhi Development Authority’s ninth stakeholder consultation on Monday tried to shift that mindset, bringing together scientists, civic agencies and environmental experts to discuss how the river and Delhi’s green-blue assets can be restored under the Master Plan for Delhi 2047.
The consultation was held at the direction of Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who has insisted that issues related to the Yamuna and Delhi’s other blue and green assets can be addressed substantively only if residents start owning these spaces and become invested stakeholders in their maintenance.
During the meeting, DDA briefed stakeholders on key MPD-2047 provisions focused on rejuvenating the Yamuna and developing Green-Blue Infrastructure across the capital. The Authority highlighted the Plan’s emphasis on environmental sustainability and an integrated approach to protecting, restoring and sustainably managing Delhi’s natural assets, aimed at delivering environmental, health, socio-cultural and economic benefits to residents.
According to DDA, the Plan provides for ecological restoration, strengthening urban forests and biodiversity, rejuvenating the Yamuna and other water bodies, and conserving floodplains, wetlands and natural and constructed drains. It also promotes nature-based solutions, indigenous species and connected green networks aimed at improving environmental quality, strengthening climate resilience and enhancing liveability for Delhi’s residents.
Discussions also centred on measures to reduce and prevent pollution in the city, a concern that directly affects Delhiites battling poor air and water quality. Participating stakeholders raised several practical suggestions, including the need for dedicated guidelines on e-waste management, protection of active Yamuna floodplains through identification of no-activity zones, a comprehensive plan for holistic regeneration of ecological resources, an integrated strategy to tackle traffic congestion and mobility, and a unified framework to coordinate above-ground and below-ground infrastructure development.
The meeting brought together representatives from a wide range of Government organisations and institutions, including MCD, CPCB, the Department of Urban Development, GNCTD, DPCC, the Central Ground Water Board, PWD, NMCG, I&FC, Delhi Jal Board, WAPCOS, TERI, SPA and INTACH. Special invitees included Prof C R Babu (Retd.) from Delhi University and Prof Meenakshi Dhote from SPA Delhi, both known for their work on ecological restoration in the capital.
This consultation is part of DDA’s ongoing three-month stakeholder outreach programme, designed to engage diverse groups, build wider understanding of MPD-2047’s provisions and incorporate ground-level perspectives into its implementation.
Around 20 such consultations are being organised in total, spanning different thematic areas and stakeholder communities tied to Delhi’s planning and development.
