Delhi High Court Directs DMRC To Vacate Yamuna Flood Plains By March 2026; Area To Be Restored And Handed Over To DDA

The Court was hearing a writ petition concerning the continued occupation of the Yamuna flood plains by DMRC for operating batching plants and a casting yard, despite earlier directions requiring removal of encroachments and illegal constructions from the riverbed and adjoining areas.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, observed: “From 1st April, 2026, the DMRC shall stand restrained from using any of this area for its activities. In addition, it is directed that after completion of the dismantling of both the plants and the yard as also the equipment and the machinery, DMRC in consultation of the Horticulture and the Forest Department shall ensure that the area occupied by them being a flood plain shall be left open and restored to its original condition without any debris, malba, parts of machinery, equipment, etc. The area shall be fully cleaned of any debris before being handed over to the DDA".

Background

By an order dated 11 December 2025, the High Court had expressed its view that DMRC was required to shift from the flood plains and that continued occupation of the area with a casting yard would be contrary to previous orders of the Court.

Pursuant to the said order, a meeting was held on 19 December 2025 between senior officials of the DMRC, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and officers from the Horticulture and Forest Departments.

Minutes of the meeting and a communication placed on record indicated that dismantling of the batching plants had commenced, with one plant already dismantled and the second in progress.

DMRC also informed the Court that casting work at the site had been completed and that no further construction activity was being undertaken. A phased schedule for dismantling and removal of materials was submitted, with completion proposed by 31 March 2026.

Court’s Observation

The Delhi High Court referred to its earlier directions requiring removal of all encroachments and non-conforming activities from the Yamuna flood plains and reiterated that such directions apply uniformly, including to State instrumentalities. The Court observed that DMRC’s continued use of the area was permitted only as a limited and exceptional measure, considering the advanced stage of metro construction.

The Court recorded the assurance given by DMRC that both batching plants had either been dismantled or were in the process of being dismantled, that casting work had been completed, and that no further construction activity was being carried out at the site. The Court also took note of the dismantling schedule submitted by DMRC, which proposed completion of the removal of machinery, equipment, and debris by 31 March 2026.

The Court further recorded the statement made on behalf of the DDA that no extension of time beyond 31 March 2026 would be granted under any circumstances.

The Court also took note of the fact that the area also included a graveyard, and directed the DDA to fence the graveyard within the next one week so that there is no further expansion and no further encroachment into the said area, while further directing its caretakers to ensure that if any burial has to take place, the same shall be within the fenced area and after the burial, no people shall be allowed to stay or live there.

The Court further directed that after completion of dismantling, DMRC shall, in consultation with the Horticulture Department and the Forest Department, ensure that the flood plain area is restored to its original condition, while specifying that the land must be left open and cleared of all debris, before being handed over to DDA.

Conclusion

In view of the above, the Delhi High Court disposed of the applications by granting DMRC time until 31 March 2026 to dismantle and remove all installations from the Yamuna flood plains, while restraining it from carrying out any activity on the site from 1 April 2026 onwards and directed restoration of the area to its original condition before handing it over to the DDA.

The matter was listed for compliance, with a direction to the DDA to file a status report confirming implementation of the Court’s directions.

Cause Title: Shabnam Burney v. Union of India & Ors. (Neutral Citation: 2025:DHC:11944-DB)

Appearances

Petitioner: S.D. Windlesh, Advocate

Respondents: Advocates Shiva Lakshimi, Madhav Bajaj, Tarun Johri, Vishwaji Tyagi, Deeksha L. Kakar, Antara Mishra, Aditya Verma, Anmol M. Kaur, Sana Parveen, Rashneet Singh, N.A. Khan and others

Click here to read/download Judgment