Delhi: Najafgarh lake revamp to attract visitors for getaway

NEW DELHI: From a wooden watchtower for bird watching to making a "nav grah", a garden based on planetary signs, the forest department has decided to add several features at Najafgarh lake to attract visitors.
Forest officials said they would also train locals about the ecology of the lake and its surroundings so that they could give a guided tour to visitors.

Najafgarh lake is a transboundary wetland shared between Haryana and Delhi. Both Delhi and Haryana governments have prepared and submitted their environment management plans to National Green Tribunal for the lake's rejuvenation. Wetland Authority of Delhi had asked the agencies concerned to ensure implementation of the measures listed in the environment management plan.
Delhi government's forest and wildlife department has planned several features for conservation of the lake and to attract visitors. It has started making a nav grah, which has plants based on planet signs. A forest official said, "This garden will be ready within a month. It's being developed as an added attraction for visitors who can water the plants, depending on their individual planet sign."
Among the new additions planned is a wooden watchtower from where birds can be seen and people educated about the biodiversity of the lake. "Considering the environment management plan, we have invited proposals from institutes to prepare a detailed inventory of the species found or dependent on Najafgarh lake. After an institute is finalised, it will take one year to 18 months for the study on species diversity to complete," said chief wildlife warden Nisheeth Saxena.
Though a comprehensive study on species is yet to be done, a preliminary report of the forest department says that Najafgarh lake is inhabited by over 281 bird species, including resident, migratory, land birds, waterbirds and birds of prey. Threatened species include Egyptian vulture, Sarus crane, Steppe eagle, Greater spotted eagle and Imperial eagle. The lake is known for attracting Greater flamingos. The forest department's report says the lake has become an important heronry as birds like darter, cormorants, Cattle egrets and Ibis breed on large trees there.
The department has also started enrichment of the site by planting saplings, shrubs and grasses on vegetative deficit and bland patches. "We have also decided to conduct a soft skill development training programme for locals on identification of birds and vegetation and other important ecological factors of the lake. We will soon rope in an organisation for training them, who can later give guided tours to visitors," said a forest official.