New Delhi

The DDA plans to organise 'Yamuna Dialogues', a multi-stakeholder initiative for the rejuvenation of the river, in September this year, officials said on Saturday.

In the run-up to the main event, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) organised a consultation workshop on Friday with government institutions, policymakers, environmental experts, urban planners and other stakeholders.

"The consultation marks the beginning of an extensive participatory process to develop a shared vision for sustainable restoration, conservation and development of the Yamuna floodplains and ghats in Delhi, and to provide actionable inputs for the Zero Draft of the Delhi Yamuna Compact," the DDA said in a statement.

The discussions focused on two key themes -- floodplain responsive planning and ghat development -- with deliberations on infrastructure that works in harmony with the river's natural flood cycles and on ghat typologies integrating ecological, cultural, recreational and religious functions, they added.

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"The initiative follows the LG Taranjit Singh Sandhu's preliminary visits to the Yamuna floodplains and subsequent review meetings with senior officials, during which he called for a multi-dimensional approach to tackle pollution in the river," the DDA said.

According to the officials, Sandhu said that Delhi residents, experts and other stakeholders should be active partners in the river's rejuvenation so that restoration of the Yamuna, especially its floodplains, evolves into a shared civic mission rather than a government-led exercise alone.