As per the news reports in September 2020, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is holding public consultations to prepare a vision document for Delhi’s development over the next two decades. The Master Plan 2041 will replace the existing Master Plan 2021, which will be outdated next year. Therefore, the agency wants to notify the new plan by that time, which will consist of many features, focusing on water bodies and the land around it, referred to as the ‘Green-Blue policy’. ‘Green’ stands for trees, lawns, hedgerows, parks, fields, and forests, whereas ‘Blue’ infrastructure refers to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains, and water treatment facilities.
The DDA plans to deal with the multiplicity of agencies, which has plagued it for several years. Having identified the issues of jurisdiction, work being done by different agencies on drains, and the areas around them, the DDA will issue common directions for all agencies.
There are around 50 big drains (blue areas), managed by different agencies. Due to their poor condition and encroachment, the land around (green areas) has also been affected. So, DDA will integrate them and remove all sources of pollution. A mix of mechanised and natural systems may be adopted, along with strictly prohibiting dumping of solid wastes through the imposition of penalties. Land around these drains will be declared as special buffer projects. A network of connected green spaces would be developed in the form of green mobility circuits of pedestrian and cycling paths along the drains to serve functional as well as leisure trips besides spaces for yoga, active sports (without formal seating), open air exhibitions, etc.
Courtesy: Indian Express