Focus on measures to alleviate concretisation, says GDA V-C

‘City forest’ located in Ghaziabad’s Raj Nagar Extension would be greener and healthier in the near future as the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is planning to give more attention on this particular project. 

The newly appointed GDA V-C, Vijay Kumar Yadav, has showed keen interest in the project and said that the authority will focus on the city’s forest project, spread over 150-acre land, with tree plantations and other facilities. 

The V-C, after visiting the city forest area, said emphasis will be given to set up a natural habitat to alleviate the <g data-gr-id="28">concretisation</g> and unchecked inflow of population from across the country. 

As Ghaziabad is located near the national Capital, the first choice for those coming from other states to Delhi that has put heavy pressure on its infrastructure. So, to lessen them and to make the city a “healthy town,” the authority has planned to develop the forest on its abandoned land along the Hindon river bed. 

“Thousands of trees of different <g data-gr-id="35">varieties as well as a bamboo garden, medicinal garden, organic cultivation, trees like peepal, banyan and <g data-gr-id="36">jamun</g></g> have been planted here which is unique to this area,” the V-C said. 

In March this year, the GDA had opened the first phase of the project, which is spread across 30-acre. On the occasion, the officials had said that in the last one year, nearly two lakh saplings of different varieties have been planted in the area in addition to the existing tree cover of the region. 

The entire project area was divided into nine blocks — A to I — with different features and facilities in each part. 

“Setting up of such facilities is the only way to save the environment from total concretisation. It will also help recharge groundwater and give sanctuary to the birds in the area. Two water bodies in the park — a five acre and a three-acre lake — will have boating facilities for visitors. The three-acre lake is a natural wetland whereas tube wells have been set up for the five-acre lake to augment water supply. The lakes are expected to attract migratory birds in the coming winters,” the official had said.