As assembly elections are nearing in Delhi, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chief Minister Atishi to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, all are engaged in inauguration and laying foundation stones in the national capital. The LG on Sunday inaugurated 494 acres Yamuna Vatika and Aarambh library in Old Rajinder Nagar in central part of the city.
The LG office in a statement said, the Yamuna Vatika, situated opposite the Rajghat Power plant, is another step by the DDA to enhance the ecological and aesthetic beauty of the Yamuna floodplains under the Lieutenant Governor's supervision, according to the statement. The Part will remain open from 9 am to 4 pm.
Covering an area of 200 hectares, it focuses on restoring the floodplains of Yamuna to their most possible natural state while offering the citizens an opportunity to connect with nature. This initiative will create ecologically rich breathing spaces for the nearby densely populated areas of Old Delhi, it stated.
The green spaces are enriched with native tree species and riverine grasses that support the floodplain ecology. The aim is to create a serene environment where the residents and visitors can immerse themselves in nature and engage in passive leisure activities, it said.
Dedicated space for children’s play
The project also includes dedicated space for children’s play, featuring eco-friendly play equipment as well as open-air seating along the existing slopes, it stated.
Floral plantations in six acres
A section of around six acres has been earmarked for floral plantations, complemented by seating shelters and kachha pathways that wind through the blooms, offering visitors a serene and immersive experience in nature.
Majestic 47.5-tonne statue of Nandi
A majestic 47.5-tonne statue of Nandi has been installed near the Geeta Colony bridge entrance within the greenway. Carved from Bhainslana black marble in Kuthara, Rajasthan, the statue was completed in just eight months measuring 18’ x 6’ x 11’.
A dedicated ‘Ecological Zone’ in the park
A dedicated ‘Ecological Zone’ has been established along the riverbank, stretching up to 300 meters. Till date, the DDA has planted approximately 5,700 native trees and 52 lakh riverine grasses at Yamuna Vatika, further enhancing the region’s ecological health.
Saxena also inaugurated ‘Aarambh’ library -- the first of its kind in Delhi at Old Rajinder Nagar. The 24x7 open library is equipped with multiple facilities like cafeteria, locker, powerplug on all seats, air conditioning in summer, newspapers and magazines, separate toilets for men and women, facilities to read and sit outside, another statement said.
The Lieutenant Governor had asked the DDA to provide library and reading room facilities to the students in the wake of the tragic incident in July last year where three young lives were lost due to drowning in the basement reading room of a private coaching centre in Rajendra Nagar.
The library, with a capacity to accommodate over 60 students at one time and nearly 200 people round the clock, will provide the reading facilities to the students at a very affordable cost, i.e. nearly one-sixth the current market rate in the area, it said.
Besides, the library would be under CCTV surveillance and also have wifi facilities. The Lieutenant Governor was informed that nearly 85 per cent of the total seats have already been filled by the students, it said.
(With PTI inputs)
