2 Delhi lakes brought to life at Baansera, musical fountain in offing

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has rejuvenated two waterbodies connected to Baansera, the city's first bamboo-themed park, and plans to install a dancing fountain with the help of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in one of them.

The bamboo park is on the Yamuna riverfront and treated water from one of the lakes will be used for irrigation in Baansera.

A senior DMRC official said that a tender has been floated for the musical fountain.

A DDA official said: "The DMRC came to us with a proposal to install a musical fountain of 10m width, 90 m length and 8 m (25 ft) height in the waterbody in middle of the park and we have agreed to the project. We have already installed six small fountains for aeration and for improving biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level. The installation of the musical fountain will surely improve the aesthetics of the place."

This waterbody is about three metres deep, spread over 5 acres and holds 35 lakh litres of water sourced from nearby STP installed at Smriti Van.

"The treated water is used for irrigation within the park and the waterbody is filled with fresh treated water after an interval of time. However, with the project for installing the dancing fountain getting finalised, we have started reducing the water supply so that the level can go down for some time and the fountain can be installed," the DDA official added.
The other revived water body is 3 metres deep, spread over 3 acres and near the entrance of the park from the Sarai Kale Khan traffic signal.
"Baansera Park is basically part of Kalindi Aviral project for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna banks and spread over 100 hectares," the official said.
The DDA is planting 22,150 saplings on the second portion (about 27 hectares) and developing a 100-150-metre buffer zone after planting 2.5 lakh riverine grasses.
About the survival of the bamboo saplings, officials said the results have been encouraging.
"We have developed lawns with manicured grass and beautified them with plantations of seasonal flowers from time to time. These plants are developed through seeds sown at our nurseries. Another attraction is the deck point, which is 10 metres high from the road level and developed after levelling uneven terrain earlier. From this deck one can see Humayun's tomb on one site, Barapullah 4 on other and Yamuna River in between," said the official.