Quack alert! Ducks to take over Lodhi Garden

NEW DELHI: The area around the artificial lake in Lodhi Garden is not only going to look more beautiful soon, but it will also be home to more species of ducks.
Bioremediation, using microbes and natural enzymes, will be employed to control any foul smell and growth of harmful algae, while the collected sludge will be taken out and converted to compost in a month. But more importantly, to develop the lake into a “duck park”, New Delhi Municipal Council will be introducing new species of ducks at the pond, making enclosures to protect these birds from stray animals and constructing wooden coops for the ducks to lay their eggs and raise chicks in the coming months.
“Two weeks ago, NDMC chairman Vijay Kumar Dev and secretary Rashmi Singh visited the area and were happy to direct improved arrangements for rearing ducks since the place is quite popular with visitors,” said an NDMC official.
The official added, “Though we have already created an enclosure with wooden stakes, we are planning to take a few other steps to protect the ducks and their eggs from predators and other hazards. We have also created a stock of medicines to make sure that they are kept healthy and free of infections. In fact, these efforts have also started attracting other migratory birds.”
The ducks breed in winter and most make their nest on an island constructed in the middle of the lake to protect them from mammals. Another wooden structure has now been put up to ensure the eggs are safe from harm and any inclement weather.
There is also a plan to install boards at the entrance of the duck enclosure to restrict entry of visitors with pets to prevent scaring the water birds. “We will also request people to stop feeding the ducks junk and oily food and thus to ensure a natural environment for them,” said the official.
The work on the rejuvenation of the lake, using the bioremediation method, has already started. With the implementation of this project, there will be no need to dry out the lake once a year to clean it.
To improve the aesthetics of the popular park, NDMC also plans to increase the number of fountains there. Currently, Lodhi Garden has two fountains. The civic official disclosed that three more would come up and they would be equipped with LED lights. The lake is spread over 6,712 sq metres and is 1-4 feet deep. At its fullest, it is capable of holding around 50 lakh litres of water.