NEW DELHI: With its plans to develop Sanjay Van in south Delhi as an eco-tourism destination facing flak from local nature lovers, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) clarified on Wednesday that it had only planned to introduce nature-based eco-tourism at spots that were already open to public, and that, too, with minimal or no intervention in the existing habitats.
A part of the South-Central Ridge of Delhi, Sanjay Van is spread over 784 acres and is close to Qutub Minar and Mehrauli on one side and Vasant Kunj on the other. DDA “carved out” this area and maintains it as a city forest, and has floated an expression of interest (EOI) for design, development, operations and maintenance of nature-based tourism under the public-private partnership model.
The plan, however, is being opposed by many local residents as they feel that it will disturb the habitat of birds and snakes, and degrade the green lungs of the city.
In a statement on Wednesday, DDA said Sanjay Van attracted “tonnes of visitors” for daily leisure activities and its proposal of introducing activities related to nature-based eco-tourism aimed at creating environmental awareness and recreation amid a natural setting in an eco-friendly manner using locally available resources.
“The activities proposed like rock climbing, forest leisure cycling, camping, star gazing, guided nature tour have been included keeping in mind nature of application and natural context,” DDA said. The aim is to encourage community participation to sensitise public towards environmental awareness through nature walks, educational tours etc, it added.
The authority claimed that the objective was not limited to development and operations of the facility by a private entity for long term, but to also ensure that development, operations, maintenance and usage of the facility was planned and implemented through a sustainable business model.
According to the statement, the components of the project can include identifying scenic zones for nature-based tourism and activities like rock climbing, paragliding, zip line, valley crossing, rope course-high and low, and Burma bridge crossing.
“The idea is to allow more and more users from different age groups to visit and appreciate this gem in the heart of the city. After a careful site analysis, designated zones for each of the activity will be earmarked in areas already open to public with minimal or no intervention in the existing habitats,” it said.
DDA reiterated that its intention was not to create a tourist spot in a natural forest, but to give people an opportunity to feel connected with such natural heritage available in Delhi. “The aim is to release the ever-increasing stress on the psyches of our future generation by allowing them to indulge in nature-based activities,” it said.
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