Amend plan if Millennium Bus Depot found on floodplains: SC

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to amend or alter the 2021 Master Plan if the Millennium Bus Depot is found to be situated on Yamuna flood plains by the NGT which is seized of the issue.

The Apex Court said that if at the conclusion it is found that it is river bed then it is end of the matter, but if it is found that it is flood plain then the master plan is to be amended and subject to the alteration the said depot should not be used for any other purpose. “On perusal of the factual position the issue whether the Delhi Transport Corporation’s Millennium Bus Depot is located in Yamuna river bed or flood plains is pending for consideration before the NGT. As and when the matter is adjudicated the master plan should be amended or altered, if it is permissible. “We consider it appropriate to grant liberty to DDA to alter the master plan if it is permissible and the depot is found to be on flood plain. Subject to such alteration the depot shall not be used for any other purpose,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said.

The Bench also comprising Justice D Y Chandrachud said, “If the NGT finds that it is river bed then it is the end of the matter, but if it is flood plain then the master plan has to be amended.” No construction is allowed on river beds. The court also asked the transport department to remove the cluster buses parked at the depot as of now by February 4. The SC took note of the fact that DTC has handed over the possession of the depot to the Delhi transport department and the arrangement has also been made to hand over the depot 3 and 4 to the department.