Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Urban greening and displacement · India · 2018–2026

Delhi clears Yamuna floodplain homes for riverfront and biodiversity-park schemes

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
What the record lacks: 2 none on record · 1 insufficient · 1 not measured See the gaps

Authorities cleared about 550 homes at Bela Estate in 2018 for a biodiversity park and lake, and about 310 families were evicted without rehabilitation at Yamuna Bazar in June 2026. The clearances were justified as riverfront and biodiversity schemes on the Yamuna floodplain.

What?
Delhi authorities cleared homes on the Yamuna floodplain for riverfront and biodiversity-park schemes, including about 550 homes at Bela Estate in 2018 and about 310 families at Yamuna Bazar in June 2026. Land Conflict Watch
Where?
East Delhi, along the Yamuna floodplain (Bela Estate; Yamuna Bazar) Land Conflict Watch
When?
May 2018 (Bela Estate); June 2026 (Yamuna Bazar) Land Conflict Watch
Who?
Gained
  • Delhi Development Authority — carried out the clearances for riverfront development and a biodiversity park Land Conflict Watch
Lost
  • Residents of the Yamuna floodplain — homes demolished at Bela Estate and Yamuna Bazar Land Conflict Watch
Harmed
  • About 310 families at Yamuna Bazar — evicted in June 2026 without rehabilitation Land Conflict Watch
Why?
The stated purposes were riverfront development and a biodiversity park and lake. Land Conflict Watch
How?
The development authority carried out the demolitions; the 2026 evictions were made without rehabilitation. Land Conflict Watch
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Land Conflict Watch reports that the Delhi Development Authority demolished about 550 houses at Bela Estate in May 2018 for a biodiversity park and lake.

Land Conflict Watch also reports that about 310 families were evicted without rehabilitation at Yamuna Bazar in June 2026.

Down To Earth reported in 2023 that demolitions of homes in an 'eco-sensitive zone' on the Yamuna coincided with Delhi's G20 beautification drive.

Tribune India reported that Delhi spent 6,856 crore rupees on the Yamuna in 2017 to 2022, while about 84 per cent of the city's pollution flows untreated from two drains.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say whether any court has ruled on the 2018 or 2026 clearances.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say what compensation, if any, the evicted families received.
    • Insufficient Reported but not verified: activists say three lakh people were affected by the demolitions ahead of the G20 summit (wording of the Down To Earth headline).

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

    Communities and civil society

    Similar cases
    Urban greening and displacement · Protected area / relocation · Water use · India · 2015–2024
    Chennai water-body restoration evictions and Perumbakkam resettlement
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementSame countryHarm to nature not measured
    Urban greening and displacement · Water use · India · 2009–2019
    Sabarmati Riverfront Development (Ahmedabad)
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementSame country
    Urban greening and displacement · Protected area / relocation · Philippines · 2019–2025
    Manila Bay rehabilitation resettlement and Pasig riverwalk
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementSame regionHarm to nature not measured
    Urban greening and displacement · Protected area / relocation · South Korea · 2009–2014
    Cheonggyecheon stream restoration merchants (Seoul)
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementSame regionHarm to nature not measured
    Urban greening and displacement · Philippines · 2023
    Philippines suspends Manila Bay reclamation works; two expected to resume
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementSame regionHarm to nature not measured
    Urban greening and displacement · United States · 2005–2026
    Atlanta BeltLine
    Same type: Urban greening and displacementHarm to nature not measured