Taranjit Singh to open Yamuna Dialogues on 52-km river revival

Delhi LG Taranjit Singh to inaugurate 'Yamuna Dialogues'; DDA to bring experts together for 52-km river stretch rejuvenation roadmap

New Delhi, November 12

According to the official release, the one-day event will bring together leading national and international experts, senior government representatives, scientific and research institutions, urban planners, development and financing institutions, private-sector organisations and civil society representatives to deliberate on a shared vision and actionable roadmap for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna in Delhi.

The Dialogues will focus on the 52-km urban stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi, recognising the river and its floodplains as an interconnected ecological system. The initiative seeks to move beyond isolated interventions towards an integrated, science-based and collaborative approach to river restoration, ecological resilience, sustainable public access and long-term management.

Baansera, the venue for the Dialogues, is itself an example of ecological restoration and transformation. Once used for dumping construction waste, the site has been developed by DDA into a vibrant bamboo park and public green space, attracting approximately five lakh visitors. Its transformation demonstrates the potential of restoring degraded landscapes while creating opportunities for people to reconnect with nature.

Over the past few years, DDA has undertaken extensive restoration initiatives across the Yamuna floodplains. More than 1,700 hectares are under active restoration, 35 wetlands have been revived, and over seven lakh native trees have been planted.

Approximately 88,000 metric tonnes of construction and demolition waste have been removed from the floodplains. At Asita, one of DDA's major restoration sites, the number of recorded bird species has increased from 63 to approximately 200, reflecting the ecological benefits of sustained restoration efforts.

Building upon these achievements, the Yamuna Dialogues will explore the scientific, institutional and financial frameworks required to sustain and scale restoration efforts over the coming years.

The discussions will feature six thematic sessions covering key dimensions of Yamuna rejuvenation. These include governance mechanisms; floodplain planning and ecological measures; water quality and drainage management; river-people connection and ghat development; sustainable financing models; and emerging technology, research and innovation.

The discussions will be guided by three overarching principles: restoring the Yamuna as a living ecosystem, minimising the ecological impact of human activities on the river and its floodplains, and strengthening the relationship between the river and the people of Delhi.

A key objective of the Dialogues is to translate expert deliberations into tangible outcomes, priority interventions and opportunities for collaboration, with clearly identified next steps for the long-term restoration and management of the Yamuna.

The recommendations emerging from the six thematic sessions will be consolidated into the proposed 'Delhi Yamuna Report', a document outlining key insights, priority actions, institutional responsibilities, potential partnerships and pathways for implementation.

Through the Yamuna Dialogues, DDA seeks to facilitate a sustained collaborative effort among government agencies, scientific institutions, development partners and communities, laying the foundation for a more ecologically resilient, environmentally sustainable and people-connected Yamuna.

— ANI