Noida Dialogue

An initiative of Democratic Outreach for Social Transformation, DOST

Noida starts work to restore 5,000 sqm wetland in Sector 85

June 10, 2019

NOIDA: With an aim to restore more wetlands in the city, the Noida Authority has identified a 5,000 sqm wetland in Sector 85. The work has already begun, the officials said.

“The wetland is being cleaned and will be restored with vegetation, grass and plants,” said Rajeev Tyagi, general manager, Noida Authority.

The authority has promised an eco-hub with herbal, medicinal and biodiversity park, along with the animal bridge and wetland restoration in Sector 91. Tyagi adds that they will restore all possible wetlands and wetland patches in the city.

For other areas, land use and records are being verified. Last month, after taking up the cause of reviving the 1.8-hectare pond in Sector 91, Noida Authority had begun work to restore the entire 12-acre wetland, which is adjacent to Sector 137 metro station.

“The 1.8-hectare pond is part of the larger 12-acre wetland in Sector 91. We are not only restoring the pond area but also the complete wetland,” said Tyagi.

Wetlands are a source of recharging the groundwater level, controlling pollution, carbon sequestration, and act as protection from floods, storms, etc. “Before the work started, this area was a dumping ground for construction and demolition waste and horticultural waste from nearby housing complexes,” said Tyagi.

While the restoration of these wetlands is being taken up on ecological lines, the work entails widening of channels, planting grass, and flora and fauna, etc.

“The excavated soil is piled up in the form of mounds, which will be revegetated with riparian plant communities like Tamarix. The banks of the wetland are being stabilised using only native grasses such as Saccharum, Typha, Phragmites, Panicum etc. Water plants such as Lotus, Water Lily, Hydrilla and Trapa will also be introduced,” said Tyagi, adding that the efforts have started paying off in Sector 91 where 25 species of wetland and grassland birds including Spot-billed Duck, Intermediate Egret, Pond Heron, Common Moorhen, Red Wattled Lapwing, Indian Robin, Scaly-breasted Munia, Green Bee-eater, Black-winged Stilt, etc were spotted visiting the area recently. “The list also includes many rare and threatened species of birds such as Red-naped Ibis and Black-headed Ibis,” said Tyagi.

Increased concretisation and other human activities such as water pollution especially, the inflow of untreated sewage, agricultural run-offs rich in fertilisers and pesticides, destruction of the catchment area and unplanned urbanisation, over-fishing, dumping of waste, etc. have been some of the reasons for loss of green areas in the district.

 

Source : The Times of India