Delhi Metro adds to Yamuna's woes, says group

India
Delhi Metro adds to Yamuna's woes, says group
By IANS, Mar 22, 2007 - 3:58:23 PM

New Delhi, March 22 - Yamuna, one of the most polluted rivers, is facing further encroachments and litter, apparently from Delhi Metro's construction sites. But Delhi Metro, hailed for its professional efficiency, denies the allegations.

'This is the flip side of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation -. In a bid to connect the entire city, it is slowly eating away the flood plain that not only adds to the problems faced by Yamuna, but also makes the people vulnerable to various risks,' said Manoj Misra of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, an initiative to save the river in the capital, on Wednesday.

The Shastri Park metro station is built on the flood plain of the Yamuna here. Such constructions, along with the upcoming Yamuna metro station, are further squeezing the flood plain and hence the river itself.

'The flood plains are critical for ground water recharge, which in turn is a substantial source of water supply to the capital. Therefore, encroachment of the flood plain short-circuits the huge water potential beneficial to the city,' said Misra.

Delhi is flood-prone and the primary purpose of the flood plain is to control the seepage of floodwaters. Also, the plains lie in zone four of the seismic map and, due to their unstable substrata, are prone to disaster in case of an earthquake.

However, DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said all construction decisions were made after taking environmental facts into consideration and the relevant permissions.

Dayal said: 'The Shastri Park metro station does lie close to the Yamuna and we have taken such facts into consideration before going ahead with the construction. Also, we have all the necessary documents and permission from the concerned authorities as well as from the Yamuna Board.'

The Akshardham temple and the Commonwealth Games Village, among other authorised constructions, also lie in the flood plains of the Yamuna.

'In 2004, the Yamuna jhuggis - was forcibly removed by the government, stating that such encroachments further add to the Yamuna's problems. But there is no one to question the hordes of other 'authorised' constructions all along the flood plains,' Misra added.

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