This is an archive article published on September 22, 2023
6,100 plants, species from Jammu & Kashmir to Lakshadweep: how a project on India’s bamboo biodiversity is shaping up on Delhi’s Yamuna floodplains
The initiative is part of the “Meri Maati, Mera Desh” programme undertaken by the Department of Forests and Wildlife at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's directions.
Written by Jatin Anand
New Delhi | Updated: September 22, 2023 07:07 PM IST
2 min read
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Bharat Kunj has been set up in shape of India's map.
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6,100 plants, species from Jammu & Kashmir to Lakshadweep: how a project on India’s bamboo biodiversity is shaping up on Delhi’s Yamuna floodplains
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From species native to Jammu and Kashmir in the north to the kinds grown in Lakshadweep island in the Arabian Sea, and from the varieties belonging to the Western Ghats to those found in the highest reaches of Arunachal Pradesh, over 6,000 types of plants from across the length and breadth of India are coming together in one place as part of an ambitious bamboo biodiversity project on Yamuna floodplains.
The initiative is part of the “Meri Maati, Mera Desh” programme undertaken by the Department of Forests and Wildlife at Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena’s directions.
Under this, plants of more than 53 species have been planted at ‘Bharat Kunj’ Bambusetum spread across 12,000 square metres of land at Baansera on the floodplains. Saxena will inaugurate a musical fountain at the location on Friday.
“Brought from across the country with 40 specimens of each species and arranged in accordance with the map of the country, as many as 2,120 bamboo plants have been planted inside the Bambusetum; 4,068 Monopodial Bamboo species, Melocalamus indicus, have been planted along its periphery,” a senior government official said.
“At its core, this is a pioneering conservation effort designed to shine the spotlight on and protect India’s rich bamboo biodiversity in the heart of Delhi. Numerous species of bamboo are grown together at Bharat Kunj with a well-designed ex-situ conservation approach,” the official added.
Bharat Kunj has been established in the shape of India’s map.
The project has been set up on floodplains land freed from encroachment; work on the initiative kicked off in August 2022.
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“The survey team of the department has used modern equipment like Differential Global Positioning System machines to draw the exact shape of India at the site and demarcate the states and the UTs; the North East Biodiversity Conservation and Research Center, Assam, provided the rhizomes or planting material,” the official said.
Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism.
Expertise
High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including:
The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls.
National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus.
Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities.
National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements.
Academic Credentials:
Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions.
Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More
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