The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila Dikshit’s official residence to get richer in biodiversity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 24, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila Dikshit’s official residence to get richer in biodiversity

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

To have a butterfly corner, critically endangered tree varieties and a miniature peacock ground

Already houses nearly 250 species of plants, animals and butterflies
Also home to trees that are either rare or have become nearly extinct

NEW DELHI: Listed among the Capital’s richest biodiversity gardens, 3 Motilal Nehru Place is going to get richer. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s official residence -- which at present houses nearly 250 species of plants, animals and butterflies and is probably the only residence in Lutyens’ Delhi where you can spot several hundred bats perched atop samal trees that outlines the house’s boundary wall -- is now preparing to have a butterfly corner, another one for critically endangered tree varieties and a miniature peacock ground.

Open to school children

Work is underway to establish and make functional these three units to add to the “green zone”. The 3 Motilal Nehru Place garden is now open to school children of Delhi for nature trail that is aimed at motivating children in the cause of protection of the environment.

“The garden is exemplary in itself as it is probably the only garden where you would find so many different species of flora and fauna. We are now planning to establish a butterfly corner, a small stretch for the peacocks which come here and also make and exclusive corner aimed at ensuring that we are able to preserve some critical endangered species of plants here. The idea is to preserve and educate,” said C.R. Babu, Prof. Emeritus at Delhi University’s Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Eco-system.

The garden is also home to several species of trees that are either rare or have become nearly extinct in the Capital.

“Students who come to the garden can see some very beautiful trees that the city has lost. Some of these varieties are ‘kadam’, ‘mahua’, and ‘semal’ all of which are unique to the area. Children can also see a pond ecosystem which has been created exclusively to make them understand the importance of water bodies and there place in the ecosystem.

By this winter, students of Delhi on there nature trail in this garden will be able to experience the wonders and complexity of a mini-ecosystem in the heart of the Capital,” said B.C. Sabata, senior scientific officer in the Delhi Government’s Department of Environment.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail