New Delhi, July 29: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has concluded a series of three stakeholder consultation workshops under the Yamuna Dialogues initiative, paving the way for the preparation of the Zero Draft of the Delhi Yamuna Compact aimed at restoring and protecting the Yamuna floodplains.
The consultations, held under the guidance of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, followed his visits to the Yamuna floodplains and review meetings with senior DDA officials. The LG had directed authorities to adopt a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to tackle pollution and ensure sustainable restoration of the river.
The workshops brought together policymakers, government agencies, environmental experts, scientists, urban planners, financial institutions, civil society organisations and technical experts to discuss six key themes—floodplain-responsive planning, ghat development, nature-based solutions, water quality and drainage, sustainable financing models, and governance mechanisms.
Participants stressed that restoring the Yamuna requires coordinated efforts from governments, institutions, experts and citizens, with ecological restoration, environmental monitoring, sustainable financing and effective governance emerging as key pillars of the proposed framework.
The recommendations from the consultations will now be compiled into the Zero Draft of the Delhi Yamuna Compact, which will be circulated among stakeholders for feedback before being discussed at the Yamuna Dialogues scheduled for September 11, 2026, at Baansera. The Compact is expected to serve as an implementation-oriented roadmap for the long-term restoration and management of the Yamuna floodplains.
