Urbanization may destroy Delhi’s last marshland
Delhi’s last marshland of 20 acers is under threat because of construction of new flats and shopping complex. The site is located at Dheerpur in north Delhi, close to the Yamuna, where the government has sanctioned to construct 5,000 flats, shopping complexes and other facilities for Delhi Police officers.
Environmentalists have raised the voice against this construction because the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) sanctioned the public-private partnership project on February 4, has allowed discharge of 12,200 litres of treated sewage into the ecologically-sensitive 20-acre part every day.
Mr. Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan says that this construction will change the appearance of the marshland. Experts also mentioned that it is very important to protect marshland and wetland as they are home to flora and fauna.
Mr. Mahendra Pandey, the pollution-control activist says that the construction of the project will harm aquatic plants birds mainly Delhi’s state bird, Sparrow. In Delhi, Dheerpur is the only place where large group of Sparrow’s can be seen. He also says that the complete area of Dheerpur will change in to a pond which causes flooding.
The approval of this project shows that the Delhi’s environment department has withdrawn the plan to protecting the marshland.
Mr. Mishra also added that this project is another example of destroying the water bodies of Delhi. Some area of this marshland was already lost in Metro construction in Jahangirpuri. He also added that SEIAA in 2010 did not gave the approval for the construction of the project of DDA at the same location because the development of flats would have led to health problems and would have affected the quality of life.
SEIAA chief Sandeep Mishra says that no development will be allowed in the marshy area, even the parking of vehicles are also not allowed in that area. The waste water will be purified so that it will cause no harm to the biodiversity.
But Mr. Pandey says against the quote of Mr. Mishra that the project approval is illegal as this area comes under the Najafgarh drain basin, where the Union environment ministry has banned such constructions.
Source: The Hindustan Times
Delhi, Delhi’s last marshland, Delhi’s marshland, Dheerpur, Jahangirpur, Mahendra Pandey, Manoj Misra, Marshland, Najafgarh, project approval is illegal, protect marshland, Sandeep Mishra, SEIAA, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Union environment ministry, Urbanization may destroy Delhi’s, Urbanization may destroy Delhi’s last marshland, withdrawn the plan to protecting the marshland, Yamuna, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan
