India, April 15 -- To prevent low-lying areas from flooding during the Yamuna overflow, the Delhi government has approved the construction of a 4.72-kilometre-long wall along the river from Majnu Ka Tila to the Old Railway Bridge (ORB), chief minister Rekha Gupta announced on Tuesday.

The target to complete the project pre-2027 monsoon season, she said, adding the decision, formally cleared as part of the budget, is rooted in the city's repeated experience with severe flooding.

Experts, however, expressed reservations over the move, saying it could prove counter-productive by affecting the river's health and natural floodplains and by risking a flood downstream.

According to government officials, the wall will serve as a barrier, preve...