The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has announced a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate four village ponds in Mundka, with the restoration work expected to be completed by October 2026. The project, estimated to cost ₹76 lakh, has been submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as part of an ongoing case related to the protection of local water bodies.
The restoration initiative follows a petition filed in 2022 by Mundka resident Jeet Singh Yadav, who approached the NGT seeking protection and revival of the village’s traditional ponds. Acting on the tribunal’s directions, the DDA was asked to submit a detailed action plan outlining restoration measures, budget allocation, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms.
According to DDA’s report dated January 3, 2026, two of the four ponds had been affected by encroachments. While one encroached site has already been cleared, the process of removing encroachment from the second pond is currently underway.
One of the major water bodies, Takiya Talab, has been receiving untreated wastewater through a stormwater drain, leading to severe degradation of water quality. To address this, a technical study was conducted by IIT Delhi. Based on its recommendations, the DDA has approved the installation of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)–based sewage treatment plant to treat incoming wastewater before it enters the pond.
The rejuvenation plan for Takiya Talab also includes pumping out polluted water, desilting the pond bed, developing a pedestrian walkway, installing solar lighting and benches, fencing the site, and planting native vegetation to improve ecological and visual quality. The pond is scheduled to be restored by October 15, 2026.
The second water body, which currently exists as vacant land with a landscaped park, has no natural inflow or catchment area. IIT Delhi has been appointed as a consultant to design its rejuvenation strategy, with completion targeted by October 31, 2026.
The third pond receives seasonal stormwater inflow and is currently undergoing maintenance work, including the construction of a boundary wall. The DDA has stated that no encroachment exists at this site and that restoration work is likely to be completed within the current month.
The fourth pond, also dependent on seasonal inflow, has already been cleaned and desilted, and development work at this site has been completed.
The Mundka pond rejuvenation project reflects a broader push towards restoring urban water bodies in Delhi, addressing issues of encroachment, wastewater inflow, and ecological degradation while improving public access and environmental resilience.
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