India's Green Tribunal Enforces Dairy Ban on Yamuna Floodplains
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive for fresh compliance reports from Delhi’s municipal and environmental authorities after inspections revealed ongoing illegal dairy activities on the Yamuna River floodplains. The tribunal, led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, expressed dissatisfaction with the enforcement of previous mandates aimed at removing livestock operations from the river’s buffer zones.
Inspections conducted in the ecologically sensitive 'O-Zone' areas near Mayur Vihar, the DND Flyway, and New Friends Colony exposed continued cattle grazing and waste accumulation. While permanent concrete structures had been dismantled, temporary sheds and animal waste remain prevalent, indicating adaptation by commercial operators rather than cessation of activities.
This situation has caused friction among Delhi’s administrative bodies. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the primary landowner, reported conducting multiple eviction drives, yet these efforts are often undone as non-compliant operators return to set up makeshift structures. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has requested the installation of permanent fencing to prevent livestock encroachment.
The NGT has set a six-week deadline for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to submit an updated action-taken report. The DPCC has been instructed to review its enforcement strategies and provide a progress report before the next judicial hearing on September 25, 2026. The tribunal also urged the use of Central Pollution Control Board guidelines to impose penalties on repeat offenders.
The ongoing enforcement challenges underscore the complexity of urban sanitation modernization while protecting vital water basins like the Yamuna. Despite federal plans to build waste-to-energy infrastructure, the persistence of informal dairies undermines these efforts. Effective exclusion of unauthorized activities along the river corridor is deemed essential for achieving a sustainable urban ecosystem.
