Green warriors say no to Science City plan in Aravalli Biodiversity Park

On the face of it, the news of a state-of-the-art Science City being built in Gurgaon should be welcomed in Gurgaon. After all, residents often complain about the lack of cultural attractions in the city. However, this Science City comes with a rider. It will be built on a 50-acre land that is currently a part of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, which many feel, would harm the existing wildlife and forest cover there. Over the last few weeks, activists and Gurgaon residents have been organising campaigns and protest marches against the NHAI’s proposed Expressway that will cut right through the park. That battle had only just begun and now another stares in the faces of the activists, who might be excused for wondering: “Why won’t the authorities leave the Aravalli Biodiversity Park alone?”



The Science City, spread over 50 acres, will be developed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in association with the Haryana government. Built along the lines of other science cities in India such as the one in Kolkata, the project is intended to attract tourists and science buffs alike, and increase students’ interest in the sciences. The state government has already given instructions to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for the execution of the project. “We have received instructions about the construction of the Science City from the state government. This will help popularise science amongst youngsters and add an attraction in the city that will draw crowds,” says Yashpal Yadav, Commissioner, MCG.
The construction will begin in January 2019 and officials are hopeful that it will be operational by the end of next year. Among the attractions of the upcoming Science City are a Space Odyssey, where visitors will be able to experience space flight through virtual reality, apart from an ocean’s world that will focus on marine life and technology, as well as a
robotics centre.



However, the plan is already facing opposition due to its location. Officials have earmarked a 50-acre part of the sprawling 293-acre Aravalli Biodiversity Park for the project. But environmentalists from the Millennium City feel it will result in the destruction of wildlife there. Interestingly, this is not the first construction project proposed in the park. It has already been a centre of controversy all through last month with residents and activists opposing NHAI’s proposed Expressway that will cut though a third of the park.
Latika Thukral, founder of citizen’s group I Am Gurgaon and one of the leaders of the protest against the expressway, says, “It makes no sense to destroy an existing forest to create a new project, particularly when the Aravalli Biodiversity Park helps clean the city’s polluted air. We are already battling the authorities regarding the Expressway and we will oppose this plan too. We have no problems with a Science City. It will only be good for the city but it shouldn’t be at the cost of our greenery and biodiversity.”
Officials, meanwhile, say that the site was finalised after careful consideration and construction will not pose a threat to the park. “Officials from NCSM and the Ministry of Culture conducted surveys in four different locations across Gurgaon in July and the site in Aravalli Biodiversity Park was found to be most feasible due to its accessibility and space. The construction will not pose a threat to the adjoining forests and special care will be taken to ensure that,” says a senior official from the NCSM.