DTC asked to return land on Yamuna floodplains (Hindi 31 May 2011)

Efforts to remove a bus shelter from the Yamuna floodplains seem to have paid off as the process to reclaim the land has finally begun. The Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited (IPGCL), which had handed over the land for the construction of a “temporary” bus shelter, has now asked the Delhi Transport Corporation to return it.
IPGCL's decision is a shot in the arm for activists who had been campaigning to rid the floodplains of illegal constructions like the DTC bus shelter. The land measuring 61.05 acres owned by the IPGCL and the Delhi Government was offered to DTC to construct a bus shelter for the duration of the Commonwealth Games. However, the land remained in DTC's possession and continued being used as a depot despite the orders against its existence.
In response to an Right To Information query, the DDA has said the issue of land being used for the depot was examined and the land use of the site has been shown as ‘river water body' as per Masterplan 2021 and the land use has been shown as ‘recreational' as per the zonal development plan of zone ‘E'.
“As per the zonal development plan of zone ‘O' clause 9.2.2 (vi) the area falls in river front and should be conserved and developed considering the eco-sensitive nature of River Yamuna and based on comprehensive scheme,” the DDA has said in its reply.
“The fact that the Delhi Development Authority has admitted in a reply sought under the RTI Act that the land was meant for recreational purposes in itself is a huge relief,” said Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.
Mr. Misra has also written to the Lieutenant Governor complaining that the DTC is also allowing private buses to park at the disputed site. “The DTC has no right to allow a third party (here the recently introduced orange buses) to park at a place which is illegal. We have also seen earth work and construction activity going on inside the depot in violation of the directions of the Delhi Urban Arts Commission,” said Mr. Misra.