How many of Delhi’s residents have been to the river’s edge or even get to see it, except for the times they cross over by road or metro? I...
How many of Delhi’s residents have been to the river’s edge or even get to see it, except for the times they cross over by road or metro? In a city that has severed its relationship with its river, it is perhaps only the farmers living along it who still retain a direct link with the Yamuna. If Delhi hopes to retain any modicum of sustainability in the future, it is essential that it retains this connection.
Delhi is unique in its history of farming, which still continues along its river – not only at its periphery but also at the heart of the city. Living with minimal impact on its floodplains for at least seven decades now, these farmers have contributed consistently to Delhi’s food systems. All through the first few months of the lockdown, when supply chains were badly hit and state borders sealed, these farmers ensured a steady supply of vegetables to Delhi’s markets.
Although there are no reliable figures from the census, community members estimate that close to 90,000 people from agrarian families reside in this zone.
There are several accounts of farming along the river in Delhi from pre-Independence years. The earliest official accounts date to 1949, when farmer cooperatives...
