DDA drone survey for Yamuna O-zone Phase 2 begins; encroachment drives underway, NGT case

In its submission dated April 20, 2026, the DDA told the NGT that the O-zone boundary was digitised and that the Phase 2 drone survey would reconcile this boundary. It stated the two-phase drone survey is expected to take about two months to complete, with post-processing adding roughly one month.

On April 17, 2026, encroachment removal removed around 1.03 acres in Jhangola village and freed around 4 acres of land near the old ITO barrage (part of L&DO), including tin sheds, godowns and huts.

An encroachment removal drive was carried out at Madanpur Khadar on April 16, 2026, with about 2 acres cleared. The operation included boundary walls, unauthorised plots, godowns and shops.

DDA communicated the copy of High Court orders to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, directing all Station House Officers within Zone O to maintain strict vigilance against unauthorised constructions and encroachments and to extend necessary assistance to DDA when required.

Drone flying operations for the second phase commenced in the Green Zone on February 5, 2026, subject to permissions for the Red Zone. The boundary of the O-zone was digitised in February 2026 based on approved planning documents and khasra layers provided by Geospatial Delhi Limited (GSDL). The drone survey is to reconcile this boundary under Phase 2. Survey of India estimates about 3.5 sq km per day per team; deploying two teams would require about 18 additional working days to cover the remaining 122 sq kms, with post-processing taking around one month.

The National Green Tribunal first took suo motu cognisance of encroachments and illegal colonies on Yamuna’s O-zone following a news report in March 2024.