Asola Bhati Mines Forest Area to be Turned into an Eco-Tourism Destination
The Asola-Bhati Mines Forest area of the capital Delhi will soon be developed as a world-class ‘eco-tourism’ destination. The government has decided to prepare a master plan for the revival and redevelopment of the area. For this, orders have been given to the officials.
LG has asked the officials to prepare a master plan for converting large potholes in the area into a reservoir within 30 days to store rain, flood water and groundwater.
The master plan for the eco-tourism site will include plans for the construction of an area for butterflies, wildlife areas, cycle routes, walkways, bird watching places and ropeways etc. This master plan will be prepared by a committee of officers of the departments concerned in consultation with experts and institutions.
Saxena, Kejriwal and Sisodia have agreed to convert 14 pits (four big and 10 small) into reservoirs, which have a total water holding capacity of 800 million gallons and will help in raising the groundwater level in the national capital.
Low-lying areas outside the forest reserve see frequent waterlogging and flooding, of which about 35 percent comes from the slopes of the higher mine area. The main drains flowing just outside the forest area were also prone to overflow during the monsoon. Officials have been instructed to build dams on one side to hold water running down the slopes and devise ways and means to lift the collected water under pressure, as well as to lift and pressurize water from drains and low-lying areas.
Along with this, it was also directed that one lakh flowering trees including Moringa, Chembu or honey tree (Dombea spectabilis), Jamun and special variety of bamboo should be planted in the area.
