Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena along with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Dy CM Manish Sisodia today visited the Asola – Bhatti Mines forest area and directed the officials to prepare within 30 days a Master Plan for developing the large abundant pits therein, into reservoirs for collecting rain, flood, and stormwater, recharging groundwater and enhancing the area into a world-class eco-tourism destination.
The Master Plan will be prepared by a committee of officers of the concerned departments in consultation with experts and institutions.
A plan has been formed to develop the 14 pits (4 large and 10 small), with a holding capacity of more than 800 Million Gallons of water, into reservoirs that would help recharge the City’s groundwater.
Accordingly, it was decided to put in place, a Master Plan for Rejuvenation and Redevelopment of the Asola- Bhatti Mines area.
During the visit, it was informed that low-lying inhabited areas outside the forest reserve witnessed persistent waterlogging and flooding, about 35 percent of which came from the gradient of the higher mines area itself.
“Apart from this, the main drains flowing right outside the forest area were also prone to overflowing during the monsoon,” stated the LG office in a press statement.
Officials were directed to hold the water flowing down the slopes by constructing a bund on one hand, and devise ways and means to pressure-lift the collected water thus, as also to channelize and pressure lift the water from the drains and low-lying inhabited areas into the Bhatti Mines pits.
At the same time, it was directed that plantation of one lakh flowering trees that include Moringa, Chembu or Honey Tree (Dombeya Spectabilis), Jamun and special variety of Bamboo, etc. be undertaken.
The eco-tourism component of the Master Plan will include provisions of creating butterfly trails, wildlife trails, cycle tracks, walking tracks, bird-watching spots, and ropeways amongst others.