Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the Amrut Biodiversity Park on Friday and said that providing a greener and cleaner city to the people will be his priority.

After inaugurating the park, he said that around a year-and-a-half ago, the place was in a terrible state, full of dirt and neglect. “It was cleaned up, and today it has been transformed into a beautiful park.”

“We aim to provide the people of Delhi with a clean and refreshing environment while also increasing green spaces in the city. We are also considering setting up a small café in the park where joggers and visitors can take a break and relax,” Saxena said.

Developed as part of the Yamuna floodplain restoration scheme by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Amrut Biodiversity Park spans over 90 hectares on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River.

 This previously underdeveloped area, which was used for agriculture, nurseries, and settlements, had experienced prolonged depletion of its natural floodplain, soil texture and native plant communities. The site has a flat topography with an overall slope away from the Yamuna River, forming small catchment zones that collected water from annual inundation, which also resulted in the formation of gullies within the site.

Given the site’s susceptibility to flooding, the park’s landscape features have been strategically designed to manage stormwater, reduce flood risks, and improve the local water table through natural filtration. The six water bodies have capacity to hold 225 million litres of water.

Slopes have been reinforced with jute, and grass have been planted to stabilise these slopes, as the area is prone to inundation during high floods. Kachha pathways have also been developed for walking and jogging amidst the natural plantation.

As part of the efforts to restore biodiversity, approximately 14,500 trees of various species, including Neem, Kachnar, Cluster Fig, Peepal, Pilkhan, Chilbil, Senegalia catechu, Champaca, Mango, Mahua, Spanish Cherry, Kaim, White Mulberry, Kadamba, Jangal Jalebi, KanakChampa, Amla, Karanj, Elaeocarpusganiturs, Ashoka Tree, Jamun, Trumpet Tree, Imli, Tamarix, Teak, Arjuna, Baheda, Siris, Kala Siris, Star Fruit, and Madagascar Almond, have been planted here by National Botanical Research Institute. Additionally, about 18,000 shrubs and approximately 3.21 Lakh riverine grasses have been planted, establishing robust riverine grass communities.

To foster public engagement with nature, two public interfaces have been established along NH-24, near the CWG Village. These areas offer amenities that connect visitors with the natural environment, even during flood-induced inundation periods.

By integrating nature into the heart of the city and along the major highways, Amrut Biodiversity Park will contribute to cleaner air, cooler urban temperatures, and a healthier environment, addressing the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation. This park will not only offer respite to the city’s residents but also restore the local ecosystem, promote water conservation.

 Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a cleaner and greener Delhi, “We are working hard towards this goal with several new projects already in progress,” he said.

“To help with water conservation and attract birds, we have created several depression areas within the park to store rain and floodwater. Additionally, around 20,000 different plants have been planted, which will further enhance the beauty of the park in the coming years.”

Speaking about the cleaning of the Yamuna, the LG said it was progressing at full speed. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and other ministers are continuously monitoring the work being carried out in mission mode, he added. The inauguration of this park represents a significant achievement in the efforts to rejuvenate the Yamuna floodplain area and highlight the importance of sustainable urban development.

DDA has extensively work on the Rejuvenation of River Yamuna and many projects are being developed on its bank including Asita, which was once an encroached land and now converted into green beautiful landscape. Besides, it has developed Baansera-Bamboo park-which was once a C&D waste area.

On the western bank of Yamuna, Vasudev Ghat was developed, where Yamuna aarti is held twice every week.