Commonwealth Games Village: Fight to save the Yamuna

Abhishek Behl

The proposed Games Village seems to be in trouble as two groups have locked horns over its construction on the Yamuna floodplains. Whereas the first group is backed by builders and Delhi Government, the other comprises of ecologists and activists.



A BATTLE HAS begun between two interest groups on the banks of river Yamuna. While one is bent upon occupying the Yamuna floodplains to construct the high profile Commonwealth Games Village with the support of the State, the other is aiming to stop this construction as it threatens the very ecology of the river.

The first group comprises of powerful builders working in unison with Delhi Government as well as the Union government. In contrast, their opponents comprise of an assorted group of environmentalists, local farmers, social activists and members of Delhi Resident Welfare Associations as well as local villagers.

By joining the ‘crusade’, renowned water activist Rajendra Singh has not only boosted the morale of the environmentalists but added to their rank and file too.

The Games village is proposed to be constructed on a prime piece of property, adjacent to famous Akshardham temple on the National (Delhi-Nainital) highway. Construction on the site began on August 10 and it was marked by a strong protest by ‘Save Yamuna’ activists, who have been camping on the site since last 13 days.

Accusing the government for neglecting the interests of the people for the sake of commercial interests of few, the environmentalists have asked Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to explain as to on what grounds it decided to construct the Games Village on Yamuna river bed.

They opined that the proposed construction was in gross violation of the NEERI report titled ‘Environmental Management Plan for Rejuvenation of River Yamuna in NCT’, which explicitly states, “No residential or industrial facilities requiring permanent structures should be provided on the river bed.”

Further, the protestors claim that the Yamuna Standing Committee accorded no specific permission to DDA for raising the permanent residential multi-storied flats in the name of ‘Commonwealth Games Village’ alongside the Akshardham temple on Yamuna floodplains.

Speaking on the occasion, noted water activist, Rajendra Singh said that construction on the river bed would lead to the destruction of Yamuna, which is the lifeline of Delhi and this loss would be irreversible. It could lead to floods as well as shortage of drinking water as concretization of the river would not allow the replenishment of the already receding water table of the city.

In a similar vein noted water activist, SA Naqvi accused the government of failing to safeguard the interests of the common man, particularly farmers, living in and around Delhi. Asserting that the proposed construction would not be allowed as it was against all environmental norms, Naqvi said that people’s power would win against the might of the State and power builder nexus.

Harpal Singh Rana, a local leader asked the people to unite against the unjust policies of the State and to take the fight unto the last. A few Delhi University students, who were present on the occasion expressed surprise over the government’s decision, “ Games village should be built on such land, which does not threaten the very existence of the people”, said Sonakshi, a DU student.

With battle lines drawn, it would be interesting to know that who will win the ‘game’? Will state power knock out the ‘Save Yamuna’ campaign or will the underdogs be able to wrest the initiative and Save Yamuna from extinction. If they manage to do so, it will not only save the river, the lifeline of the entire region.

The answer will be there for all to see in the next few days.