Oasis in an urban jungle

In July 2007,the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) signed an MoU with the CPWD,Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to undertake a major urban renewal project in Humayun’s Tomb-Nizamuddin conservation area. “The MoU enabled us at AKTC to undertake the landscaping and development of CPWD-owned Sunder Nursery,” Ratish Nanda,project director at AKTC,says.

The renovation of Sunder Nursery,Nanda hopes,will catalyse the development of a gigantic park that would create a refuge from the city’s chaotic life. “The plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2015 and includes 20 acres of nursery beds,40 acres of an ecological zone that comprises an arboretum,a micro-habitat zone and 10 acres of the heritage axis,consisting of nine Mughal-era monuments,” N K Aggarwal,project engineer,AKTC,says.

This plan will lead to a green space stretching across 480 hectares with a total of 1 lakh trees of more than 300 species. It would be possible for someone in the middle of Delhi to escape into a garden with a Buddhist Stupa,medieval tombs and peacocks strutting about.

But that isn’t easily achievable. No formal discussion has begun with the government yet. Nanda says the Delhi Development Authority,the ASI,the Land and Development Office,the Ministry for Environment,the Delhi government,the CPWD and the South Municipal Corporation,will not only have to work in tandem,but also develop the areas north of Sunder Nursery according to guidelines laid down for the nursery.