The Hindu : New Delhi News : Green Delhi to become greener

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Friday, May 22, 2009
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New Delhi

Green Delhi to become greener

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

Government ropes in Forest Research Institute to add colour to its ecology

NEW DELHI: Considered one of the greenest Capitals globally, Delhi is adding more greens and a smattering of colour to its existing biodiversity. The Delhi Government has roped in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, to create a bambusetum (an assortment of bamboo species), an arboretum (a collection of trees) and a butterfly park in the city.

The extra patch of greens and the butterfly park coming up at Garhi Mandu near Raj Ghat will be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games in the city. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is scheduled to inaugurate the project in the first week of June.

“We were approached by the Delhi Government to create these ecological pockets at Garhi Mandu. While they will serve as an educational and recreational hub, they will also be an added attraction for visitors during the Games in 2010,” said Forest Research Institute director S.S. Negi.

The bambusetum will introduce the city to various species of bamboo, which is mainly grown in the Northeast. “There are various kinds of bamboo that can be grown here and it will emerge as a wonderful place for visitors. In fact, Delhi will be among the few Capitals in the world that boast of a bambusetum.”

Giving details of the arboretum, he said: “The idea is to bring to the city an assortment of trees. There are different kinds of trees, some of which people may not even have heard of. Here we are also attempting to replant some of the tress that grew more than a 100 years ago and were part of Delhi’s original vegetation. Over the years trees like jamun, sheesham and acacia have dwindled in numbers.”

The trees will be brought in from across the country, but a majority of them will be from the tropical areas. “There are some limitations of weather; we cannot grow trees from the extremely hilly regions at the arboretum. And the arboretum will also be a lesson in diversity of the flora. It will be beneficial for students who want to learn more about the foliage,” said Dr. Negi.

The butterfly park too will be a first of its kind in the city. To be created next to the bambusetum and the arboretum, it will have an extensive variety of butterfly species.

Apart from the Delhi Government’s recent initiative, the Delhi Development Authority’s Yamuna Biodiversity Park too boasts a butterfly conservatory and a bambusetum. Small butterfly conservatories can also be found in Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The Forest Research Institute, which has been taken in as consultants for the Commonwealth Games venues particularly the Games Village, has also submitted a report on the condition of trees in the New Delhi Municipal Council areas.

“A survey was conducted on the trees along the roads and we found that most of them that have concrete around their roots need treatment. We have already submitted the suggestions to the NDMC to ensure that the trees that are past their life span (80 to 120 years) are cut and the concrete around the others replaced to carry out whatever treatment is required,” Dr. Negi added.

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