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15. That certainly clinches the issue that the DDA has all the legal powers to deal with the site in question. Be that as it may, the structure in question is apparently located on the Yamuna flood plains which have been developed by DDA pursuant to directions of the NGT. It would be apposite to reproduce the relevant portion of the order dated 09.01.2023 passed by the NGT in the matter of Ashwani Yadav v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi6:-

9. Before above order dated 24.4.2017, the Tribunal passed orders including orders dated 13.01.2015 (2015 SCC Online NGT

840), 08.05.2015 (2015 SCC Online NGT 841). Further orders include those dated 07.12.2017 in OA 65 of 20163 and OA 76 of 20164, final order dated 27.1.2021 in OA6/2012, Manoj Mishra, as already noted. By order dated 13.01.2015, two reports of Expert Committees constituted by the Tribunal dated 19.04.2014 and 13.10.2014 were accepted and on that basis, directions were issued for preventing discharge of pollutants into the river, maintaining environmental flow, protecting flood plain zones by river front development activities and removing encroachments. The work was to be completed by 31.3.2017, including provision for 32 additional STPs for 32 major and minor drains, upgradation and maintenance of existing sewer network. Committee was constituted to oversee compliance comprising MoEF&CC Ministry of Water Resources; Chief Secretary, Delhi Administration; Vice Chairman, DDA; Commissioner of all the Municipal Corporations; Commissioner, DJB; Secretary, Department of Irrigation, NCT of Delhi and concerned Secretaries of the States of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to oversee execution of orders of Tribunal. By order dated 24.07.2017, constitution of Committee was modified to the effect that it will be headed by Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources (now Jal Shakti). Proceedings for execution continued before the Tribunal. By order dated 26.07.2018, the Tribunal after noting that the progress remained inadequate, constituted Yamuna Monitoring Committee (YMC) to be headed by former Chief Secretary, Ms. Shailja Chandra and also comprising former Expert Member of this Tribunal, Mr. B.S. Sajwan. The Committee took stock of the situation and gave its first report dated 16.01.2019 flagging the issues to be focused and noting that FC count was upto 6,400 times above the prescribed standards. Only 14% of the 1797 colonies had sewage pipelines. DDA had failed to remove the debris and secure the area by erecting barbed wire fencing. It had not undertaken demarcation of flood plains. Next order of the Tribunal is order dated 11.09.2019 dealing with all the micro issues by laying down exhaustive guidelines and directions and timelines as well as action to be taken for violation of the timelines. Timelines extended till 31.12.2020. Steps to be taken included tapping 147 drains not covered by interceptor (ISP) project and diverting them to STPs, W.P. (C) 12817/2023 KUMAR VATS Signing Date:29.05.2024 16:17:23 connecting unsewered areas to STPs., recovery of sewage charges from all generators of sewage. Further, order dated 05.03.2020 was passed while considering YMC‟s 3rd report dated 05.02.2020 recommending single agency to deal with control of pollution in all the drains of Delhi and also single coordinating authority by DDA for:

20. DDA in coordination with all concerned agencies is hereby directed to ensure removal of encroachments from Yamuna River Flood Plains. Delhi Police shall provide necessary force to the DDA as and when requested, to maintain law and order during such encroachment removal drives to remove encroachment from Yamuna Flood Plains.
21. Further, DDA shall submit an action taken report on development of ten bio-diversity parks / wetland areas in Yamuna River Flood Plain including an action plan with timelines for completion of pending projects. Cities and Towns around India, which have been developed along rivers, are doing horticulture and green development of river fronts for their citizens as 7 WP(C) No.7594/2018 and 9617/2022 decided on 08.04.2024 W.P. (C) 12817/2023 KUMAR VATS Signing Date:29.05.2024 16:17:23 symbols of urban pride.