HC bans construction along 300 meters of river Yamuna

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) While banning constructions within 300 meters along the banks of river Yamuna, the Delhi High Court today directed the district courts not to grant any stay on demolition of any illegal structure on the river banks.

A division bench headed by Justice Vijender Jain said no subordinate court should grant any stay on demolition of unauthorised buildings carried out by the MCD and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

The court directed the authorities of the Delhi Government, MCD, DDA and Delhi Police to ensure that no construction was carried out within 300 meters along the banks.

The Judges said if the encroachments on both the banks of the river from Wazirabad, bordering Haryana, to Kalindi Kunj, bordering Uttar Pradesh, were not removed by April end, the DDA vice chairman would be personally present on the next date of hearing on May 3.

While reprimanding the DDA, the court observed that ''The DDA was not putting much efforts to clear the encroachments from the banks in persuant to the directions of the court given on November 16, 2005 and December 8, 2005.'' The encroachments on the banks along Shantivan, Shaktisthal, Chandiram Akhara, Yamuna Vihar, Yamuna Bazar, Sarai Kale Khan and near Noida bridge had to be removed by April 30.

The MCD was directed to remove immediately the illegal construction of a Gurudwara in Majnu-ka-tila near the University of Delhi.

The court also directed the MCD to give details about the plan to spend Rs 25 crore sanctioned by the Government of India for the beautification of the Yamuna banks to the Committee formed to supervise the operation.

The Uttar Pradesh Government today submitted that it had cleared all encroachments on the banks near the barrage under its jurisdiction.

The court asked the authorities to apporach the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and HUDCO for satellite mapping of the area.

The High Court had appointed a committee comprising former Delhi High Court Judge Justice Mehra, Delhi Police Commissioner, Vice-Chairman DDA, Commissioner MCD and the Officer-in-charge of Okhla barrage of Uttar Pradesh government to monitor the cleaning of the water of river Yamuna.

UNI PAT HS RS1803