Delhi L-G inaugurates Amrut Biodiversity Park, ‘aim is to increase green spaces’

According to DDA, what distinguishes the project from the rest of the biodiversity parks is its theme – India’s freedom struggle. It features tracks named ‘First War of Independence’, ‘Santhal Rebellion’, ‘Champaran Satyagraha’, ‘Dandi March’ and ‘Azad Hind Fauj’.

Speaking to mediapersons, Saxena said, “Amrut represents something that emerges from a process of purification or manthan (brainstorming). Similarly, the park’s creation involved cleaning and rejuvenating the area, resulting in what can be called ‘Amrut’. This makes the name Amrut Biodiversity Park truly fitting.”

An augmentation of 225 million litres of water is being done, as per DDA. (Photo: X/ @official_dda)

Saplings of 14,500 native plant and tree species, such as jamuns, shishams, kadams, and maulsari, as well as 3.2 lakh riverine specimens of grass, including blue panic gass and sarkanda, have been planted in the park, which also has four water bodies.

According to DDA officials, existing catchments in the area were dredged to restore the site’s hydrology with the addition of 225 million litres of water.

The space largely looked barren as native plantations were widely spaced and the riverine grasses far in sight. (Photo: X/ @official_dda)

As Saxena toured the park along with officials, near the entrance, demarcated as a wetland, stood a recently dredged land. “During monsoon, these dredged areas will fill up… and water bodies will be visible,” a DDA official told Saxena.

The project has received backlash from environmental activists since it was announced in 2022. For instance, the South Asian Network on Dams, River and People (SANDRP), has raised concerns about the park’s flood-prone nature and its financial viability.

According to an official project document, “The entire site is prone to inundation during the monsoon, as water is released from ITO Barrage. The site had a flat topography with an overall slope away from River Yamuna, forming small catchment zones that collected water from annual inundation and formed gullies within the site.”

However, confident of the success of the initiative, Saxena said, “…In one or one-and-a-half years, this area will be transformed… birds of different species will come here, as we have planted different types of trees… The water bodies will also provide a soothing impact for visitors.”

“We aim to provide the people of Delhi with a clean and refreshing environment while also increasing green spaces in the city. We are also considering setting up a small café in the park where joggers and visitors can take a break and relax,” he added.