New Delhi: While Delhi Development Authority (DDA) plans to develop Sanjay Van in South Delhi as the tail of tourism, the locals opposed the move because they felt that moving would disturb the habitat of birds and snakes and lower the lungs of the green and degrade the city.
Spreading more than 784 hectares, Sanjay Van is known for his tranquility, the sound of bird chirps, butterflies fluttering, solid tree cover and five ponds.
Part of the South-Central Delhi Ridge and located Vasant Kunj, Sanjay van was developed by DDA in the 1970s.
The reserve forest attracts a number of pedestrians, bird watchers, cyclists, and nature lovers every day.
However, after the agent of landowners floated the expression of interest to develop natural-based tourism activities under the public-private partnership model, regular visitors to Sanjay Van objected to that step.
Volunteers related to “no earth b”, who do cleaning exercises every Sunday at Sanjay Van since April 2019, have started a campaign to demand the cancellation of EOI notice.
A total of 88 people had immediately written to LG Anil Baijal and the Chairman of the Minister of Arvind Kejriwal to impose plans for recognition of adventure and other activities, including rock climbing, paragliding, forest safari, arrow and talat courses.
Sherankanya Gurtu, a sociology student at the LSR who took part in the cleaning drive here every Sunday, said: “Witnessing the rich flora and fauna of Sanjay van is a recreational activity and one cannot have a boring moment here.
Open it up to more activities Business will cause more damage to the forest.
If anyone wants to do adventure activities, he must go to the amusement park.
“Dr.
Aniruddho Karak, a dental surgeon, claimed that as an enthusiasm of nature, he was fascinated when he first visited Sanjay Van several years ago when he had to look at the different Delhi side.
“Developing Sanjay Van as a tourism place will have an impact on beauty and tranquility, and will damage the city green belt,” he said.
“Some visitors raved this urban forest with non-biodegradable waste, including plastic bottles and meal wrappers.
If the planned activity was introduced, it would increase the making of waste here in the next few years,” said Dhrstadyumn, a volunteer with no earth b .
He added that the group had collected 24.8 kg of non-biodegradable waste from the Sanjay Van last week.
A number of morning pedestrians also objected to DDA’s plan.
SK Raghav and Geetav Raghav, who have come to Sanjay van for more than six years to walk in the morning, said, “Air pollution and noise in Delhi are a matter of worries.
Sanjay van is one of the few places in the capital famous for its peaceful atmosphere .
Our aim must save nature and does not cause further damage to it.
“Regular visitors for almost 15 years, retired Colonel Op Pahaja said Sanjay Van must be maintained naturally and introducing activities for commercial purposes will damage the calm environment.
DDA officials, meanwhile, are not available for comments.
Watch Delhi: Local residents oppose Dda’s plan to convert Sanjay Van into Eko tourism