Yamuna needs a riverfront, not bluster / Riverside dream hinges on the Supreme Court

Aruna P Sharma

New Delhi, August 15

No stone was left unturned to get the necessary clearance for the construction of Akshardham Temple. The green signal from the Central Water Commission and the approval for change of land use for 45 hectares (110 acres) from the Ministry of Urban Development was granted within months in 1999.

However, the long-term plan prepared by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to develop the whole riverfront has been gathering dust in the Ministry of Urban Development since 2002. This, despite the fact that citizens are starved of good green public spaces. Right now, there are just a few options like India Gate and the zoo.

The architect who designed Shanti Van, M M Rana, currently Dean of Sushant School of Art and Architecture, says the river has been converted into a backyard of the city. "The river should be revived and the river banks should be developed into parks, recreational areas and nurseries," says Rana suggesting a structure like the Ferris wheel on the River Thames that gives a panoramic view of the whole city. One can even have a river highway so that all people passing through the city can view the river, he adds.

The river front development plan was prepared in 2002. As per this plan, the river front was to be developed into a recreational space with promenades, parks, golf course, race course, nature trails, cycle tracks and so on. In short the 60 square kilometres of space on either side of the river from Wazirabad to Okhla (identified as O zone in the Master Plan) and 37 square kilometres of landupstream of Wzirabad could well become the chill out zone of the Capital, if this plan is put on the fast track.

According to a senior DA official, the river front development plan was drawn up on the basis of the recommendations made by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur.

The report had divided the riverbed into three zones. Areas prone to flooding every 25 years or less are to be maintained as pondage area with water bodies to recharge ground water. Areas prone to flooding every 50 years can have recreational facilities while areas completely safe can have public and semi-public utilities like food courts, plazas and so on.

Recently, the river front development plan received a boost with Vice Chairman Madhukar Gupta and planning officials of DDA making a presentation before Lt. Governor B L Joshi. Delhi just might get its own riverfront chill out zone complete with open-air restaurants and promenades

Riverside dream hinges on the Supreme Court

HT Correspondent

New Delhi, August 15

Lieutenant-Governor B L Joshi wants the Yamuna river banks to be developed as a site for soft tourism where one can spend a few hours in peace away from city's hectic schedule. Joshi says that Yamuna can be developed into a picnic site only if the river is cleaned and there is a vast span of green area. The Delhi Development Authority, which is headed by Joshi, is developing the river bed.

The L-G said that the jhuggi clusters on the river bed have to be relocated adding that most of the jhuggies have been removed.

When asked about the future of Commonwealth Village, Joshi said they will abide by the Apex Court orders.

"We have enough time and the site of Commonwealth village can be shifted as the court desires. We can then look at some other options," he said. No ground work has started so far at the Commonwealth village site next to Akshardham Village site.

Many of the plans may alter in view of the recent Supreme Court order on Akshardham. “We are examining the Supreme Court order,” Joshi said