16.8.14

East Delhi to get city forest


The forest department has hit upon a novel solution to the problem of pollution in one of the most congested spots in the capital -plant a forest to act as a pollution sink. The lieutenant governor has approved the transfer of 22 acres of land for a city forest to be grown along the Yamuna near Shastri Park Metro station in east Delhi. Part of the site was being used as a dumping yard.
The first phase of the project will be taken up on an 8 acre patch which will also have a medicinal plant garden. “We chose this area because it is extremely crowded and polluted. Since the LG has already directed departments to enforce the recommendations made by a high powered committee on air pollution, plantation is one of the strategies to deal with the problem,“ said a senior official from the environ “The forest will be dense but will have walking trails too. It will be open to public,“ the official added.
Delhi Development Authority had initially given the land to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. It was recently transferred to the forest department. Tarun Coomar, assistant chief conservator of forests (APCCF) proposes to from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) to come up with a detailed plan for the forest, which would be the 27th in the city.
Among medicinal plants, the forest will have sarpagandha, ashwagandha, lemon grass, kalmegh and kali tulsi, among others. Horticultural species such as pomegranate, guava, jamun, shah toot and saptaparni will be planted, mainly to attract birds. “For the main plantation, we plan to use maulshri, arjun, sheesham, ficus and others. Since the area is adjoining the Yamuna, we hope that a lot of birds will start visiting. There will be benches inside for visitors to enjoy the greenery ,“ he added.
On Tuesday , the forest department planted about 3,000 saplings in the plot, in the presence of lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung. The lieutenant governor urged RWAs and schoolchildren to join the plantation drive. Free saplings are being distributed to RWAs, eco clubs in schools, market associations and general public by the forest department and the Delhi Parks and Garden Society nurseries as part of this year's Van Mahotsav celebrations.
According to the Urban Forestry Network, a global non-profit organization, city forests play a key role in reducing pollution and keeping temperatures down. These forests absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a heat-trapping gas emitted by vehicles and other city activities, thus keeping cities cool. The leaf stomata of trees also absorb other pollutants like sulphur dioxides and particulate matter.
The pollution monitoring station at Delhi University , the closest station to Shastri park, records 15-20% higher fine particulate matter levels than other stations such as Pusa road or Lodhi road. During winter, peak levels here often go up to an alarming 350 micrograms per cubic metre.

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