Greens oppose govt plan to run e-carts in bird park

GURUGRAM: As the path leading to the pond in Sultanpur national park has been widened for visitors and battery-operated vehicles — scheduled to be inaugurated by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on October 9 — green activists on Wednesday alleged that the widening will disturb the movement of birds around the pond.

Activists also claimed that the Sultanpur national park, which is spread across 352 acres with the accessible area for visitors being 2.5 kilometre (from main gate till the duck point), is too short a distance to require battery-operated vehicles.

"The widening of the path is an encroachment of the area. The pond is already five times smaller than its natural area. It is an insensible decision to introduce battery-operated vehicles in the park," said Mamta Tanwar, a bird watcher.

Some birders also alleged that the authorities didn't plan the widening in a proper manner. "Authorities could have covered the widened path with bamboo trees which wouldn't have threatened the movement of birds near the path," said Pankaj Gupta of NGO Delhi bird foundation.

Vivek Kamboj from Haryali, an environmental NGO, on the other hand, said that authorities are ignoring important issues in Sultanpur park. "Several new structures have come up inside the park and new constructions are also going . This is illegal. The authorities should immediately take steps to remove the structures that are present inside the park and make space for more greenery in the area. Introduction of battery-operated vehicles is not going to do any good for the bird habitat," Kamboj said.

However, park officials refuted the claims and said, "These battery-operated vehicles will only ply in designated areas. Visitors will be accompanied by a guide and will be provided binoculars for bird watching. The battery-operated vehicled will not disturb the bird movement."

Despite multiple calls and messages, District Forest Officer (Wildlife), Shyam Sunder remained unavailable for comments. The park receives over 20,000 migratory birds every winter and hosts 180 resident bird species. Every year the park opens from October to March.