Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 12: The Delhi High Court has issued a strict direction prohibiting any commercial, religious, or parking-related activity on the ecologically sensitive Yamuna floodplains at Sur Ghat, underscoring the need to protect the river’s fragile ecosystem.
A single-judge bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh ordered the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to ensure that Zone-O of the Yamuna floodplains remains free from all forms of human activity, including vehicle parking.
The court made it clear that even parking arrangements for visitors or devotees visiting the river for religious purposes cannot be permitted in the restricted area.
“No activity is to be allowed on the said land, including parking of any vehicle for any purpose, even for convenience during religious occasions,” the court observed, emphasising that environmental protection must take priority over public or commercial use.
The ruling came while disposing of a petition filed by Suresh Kumar, who had sought restoration of a parking site at Yamuna Sur Ghat after being selected as the highest bidder under a tender issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 2022.
The petitioner had argued that he was allotted the parking site for a three-year period after depositing the required fees. However, the court was informed that discrepancies existed in the land area handed over by the DDA to the MCD, leading to cancellation of the allotment in January 2025.
The DDA also submitted that the land forms part of the Yamuna floodplains and is urgently required for environmental restoration and development purposes.
Rejecting the request to restore the parking contract, the court noted that the petitioner had not challenged the cancellation order and that issues related to legality and compensation involved disputed facts that could not be decided in writ jurisdiction.
Justice Singh observed that such matters would need to be pursued through a civil suit if the petitioner sought damages.
At the same time, the court directed the DDA to consider making alternative parking arrangements away from the floodplains if required, particularly during religious occasions when large numbers of devotees visit the river.
The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s consistent stance that the Yamuna floodplains, classified as a highly sensitive ecological zone, must be protected from encroachment and commercial exploitation.