Two years after announcing the project, forest to be developed in Gurugram

Gurugram: It was in the year 2017 that the initiative of creating forest within the city was first discussed In Gurugram. After two years, the Haryana government has begun taking action towards implementing the project. If all goes according to the plan, the state government will begin the implementation of the forest project in the city. The forest will be developed and conserved on the lines of Delhi's ridge area.

State Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh, who will initiate the plantation on Friday, claimed that the forest is the only solution to the critical air quality of Gurugram as the Aravallis can no longer solely bear the burden of urban air cleansing.

"We have identified the land. It will be a model to reckon with in NCR. Local trees and plants will be planted and taken care of as part of the central Jal Shakti Abhiyaan. This forest will be a compensation for the trees axed for urban and infrastructural development in Gurugram," said Narbir.

According to officials, it is also planning to build water bodies, arboretum, recreation centre, medicinal plant garden and a bamboo park surrounded by nature trails in the forest. The area will be fenced and a mass plantation drive will be carried out to increase the green cover. The city forest will be developed in the Aravalli hills and foothills in villages Sakatpur, Gairatpur Bas and Sikohpur.

According to officials, the new city forest will be bigger than Aravali Biodiversity Park, which is spread across 300 acres, and a 7-km-long trail along Wazirabad Bundh. The department will encourage plantation of native tree species in the forest and only treated water will be used there. The project is a joint effort of the district administration, forest department and private companies. The authorities plan to also distribute these areas to companies interested in tree plantation and maintenance drives for at least four years. These companies will plant around 2,500 trees and other plants in the forest. A large part of the 1,000-acre land is protected under the Section 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA).