5 Delhi water bodies in need of plan for revival: Forest dept

THE REMAINING 14 WATER BODIES ARE FULL OF WATER AND WILL BE PRESERVED IN THEIR NATURAL FORM, THE DEPARTMENT SAID

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

NEW DELHI: Delhi's forest and wildlife department has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that five of the 19 water bodies under its jurisdiction have either completely dried up, are being dumped with sewage, or are encroached upon, and need interventions and an action plan for revival. The remaining 14 water bodies are full of water and will be preserved in their natural form, the department has said.

Three of the five water bodies are in Garhi Mandu, northeast Delhi, Rajokri, south Delhi, Sikarpur, southwest Delhi, and two are in Mukhmelpur, northwest Delhi.

The department made the submission to NGT after it sought details and present status of all water bodies from Delhi's landowning agencies, including the forest department, after taking suo motu cognizance of a news report in April last year on disappearing water bodies in the Capital.