Delhi to get its first bamboo theme park, 'Baansera'
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Delhi to get its first bamboo theme park, 'Baansera'

Bamboo groves at the periphery will help contain pollution caused by seasonal dust storms

Delhi to get its first bamboo theme park, 'Baansera'

Delhi: The Lt Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on August 9, 2022, laid the foundation of ‘Baansera’, Delhi’s first Bamboo theme park. This theme park has been established to enhance the ecological character of Yamuna floodplains and make it more people-friendly by making it attractive as a recreational and cultural venue. More than 25,000 special varieties of Bamboo saplings, brought from Assam will be planted here. It will achieve the purpose of augmenting the much-needed public spaces in the Capital on one hand, and also ensure that the rich biodiversity of the flood plane is preserved and maintained.

The floodplain and riverbed have often been subjected to encroachments and unauthorised construction, resulting in a grave assault on the very existence of Yamuna as a river. Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that the plantation of Bamboo- Baans on a large scale will help address the capital's problem of air pollution significantly. Bamboo produces about 30% more oxygen and consumes less water and enriches the soil, he underlined.

Apart from adding to the oxygen in the city's atmosphere, Bamboo groves at the periphery will also help contain pollution caused by seasonal dust storms. In addition to this, Bamboo as a source for various economic activities like furniture making, incense sticks, and more will help create employment opportunities and augment incomes in Delhi.

The occasion was also graced by Gautam Gambhir, MP, Naresh Kumar, Chief Secretary Delhi, and Manish Kumar Gupta, Vice Chairman DDA.

DDA’s well known project of restoration and rejuvenation of the floodplains of river Yamuna is being carried out as an initiative to enhance the ecological character of the floodplains and to make them accessible to the public at large. This project is being taken to a next level under the ambitious Baansera project, conceived and guided by the Lt Governor himself.

An area of 10 hectares of the floodplain, South of NH-24 on the western banks is being developed as a theme-based multipurpose area using bamboo as a material in biotic and abiotic forms. While identifying the site in June this year, the LG had instructed for a 2.5-hectare depression over there, to be developed into a live water body. Works for the same have been completed and the Water body will be a part of Baansera.

Delhi’s first-of-its-kind initiative has been named Baansera as derived from the Hindi word “Basera” meaning “Abode”.

Elaborating about the project, Lt Governor said, "The entire area has been categorized into two parts: Bamboo recreation primarily in the greenway zone and Bamboo plantation along with other riverine plantations."

'Baansera' will have a unique experience in terms of plantation of different varieties of the bamboo plant especially procured for this area. Apart from plantations, the park will have amenities designed in bamboo which is an eco-friendly material including kiosks, huts, watchtower, and seats for public use in the greenway areas along kachaa paths.

The bamboo plantation area will have varied varieties of bamboo plants planted in the form of groves.

The bamboo recreation area in the greenway zone comprises of an arrival zone- a transitional area that acts as a journey from the city’s busy life into the pristine river flood plains with an experiential walk amongst plantations that takes you into gathering spaces.

A bamboo café is also proposed along with seating under bamboo trees. Large spaces for congregation have been designed with live bamboo plants forming a curtained enclosure, he said.

In July 2022, 20,000 saplings of 15 varieties of Bamboo have been procured from Assam and a nursery is already set up so that they get adapted to the climatic conditions of Delhi in time for planting in this monsoon season on the site.

Once completely developed, it will be a source of learning & promotion for sustainability and will offer a pristine oasis for the people of Delhi like other project sites at the Yamuna floodplains.