Trees uprooted along a road leading to a Chhath Puja ghat.
| Photo Credit: Nikhil M. Babu
As Delhi gears up for Chhath Puja, environmental concerns are mounting over the ongoing preparations on the Yamuna floodplains. Several of the 17 ghats being developed for the four-day festival seem to violate National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions that prohibit construction and alteration of floodplains.
A visit by The Hindu to six of these sites revealed widespread digging, levelling, and compacting of land, all using bulldozers and earthmovers, along with the complete removal of tall grass, shrubs, and other vegetation from the fragile ecosystem.
At a ghat near the Old Railway Bridge (ORB), a nearly 500-metre-long road was seen being built across the floodplains using gravel and rocks. At another ghat near the DND flyover, depressions in the terrain were being filled with soil using heavy machinery, while a large tent was being erected nearby.
Similarly, at a ghat on the eastern bank of the Yamuna near ITO, an earthmover was seen creating a ramp over a water-filled marshy ditch using plastic sandbags. A structure that somewhat resembled a makeshift bridge was also visible, linking two parts of the floodplains separated by a flowing channel of the river.
2015 order
At both the ORB and DND ghats, uprooted trees over six feet tall were found lying along the temporary road leading to the sites. The NGT’s 2015 order categorically prohibits the “filling up” of floodplains. Following the controversial 2016 Art of Living cultural festival held on the Yamuna floodplains, an NGT-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC) had observed that such activities, including the removal of natural vegetation and filling up of depressions, can cause irreversible harm to the ecosystem. The NGT accepted the report in 2017 and imposed a ₹5 crore fine on the organisers, while reprimanding authorities for giving permission for the event.
The office of Parvesh Sahib Singh, Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, declined to comment on the matter despite repeated calls and messages.
Possible wetland loss
Echoing findings from the HPC’s 2016 report, environmental experts warned that the current activity could lead to loss of wetlands on the floodplains.
“The natural vegetation consisting of reeds and trees has been completely removed, and the large number of birds and other natural life supported by the floodplains have vanished due to this destruction,” the HPC’s report had noted.
It had also warned that altering the topography of the floodplains, through the construction of ramps, filling up of water bodies, and soil compaction, would “eliminate the natural physical features and diversity of habitats”.
‘Clear violation’
In its December 2017 judgment, the NGT also clarified that even wetlands not formally notified must be protected if they exhibit wetland-like characteristics. “What is happening now at the ghats is reminiscent of the Art of Living case,” said an environmental expert who has served on NGT-appointed committees. “Excavation, removing of vegetation, and levelling depressions will alter the basic character of the floodplains, destroy their water recharging capacity, and damage the natural ecosystem. This violates the NGT’s directions,” the expert said.
At several ghats, including at ITO, remnants of natural vegetation – grass as tall as six feet – stood beside areas cleared by bulldozers. At some sites, sand-filled sacks were being used to stabilise soil and create makeshift steps for devotees.
Pointing to one such depression near DND, an organiser said: “We levelled a part of this using a bulldozer and plan to level the rest soon. We are expecting a large turnout on October 27 and 28, so we need to create space for devotees.”
Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari termed the activity a “clear violation”. “The floodplains are meant to be left untouched and protected. Whatever is happening is a clear breach of existing laws and an act of ecological destruction,” she said.
Published – October 25, 2025 01:37 am IST
