The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, has begun to map out wildlife in the Aravallis besides ascertaining the land use and land cover in the area. It would assess the presence of major wildlife species in the Aravallis, especially the leopards and other predators.
A Government spokesman said it would help the Forest Department in identifying and conserving important habitats for future preservation of wild animals in the Aravallis.
Haryana Minister for Forests, Wildlife and PWD, Rao Narbir Singh launched an Eco-Restoration and Rejuvenation Project for Chakkarpur bundh in Gurgaon a day before. He said that the growing Gurgaon-Faridabad urban conglomerate was one of the most endangered urban landscapes. About 30 bundhs dating back to the colonial or post-Independence period existed here. Besides serving as important flood protection tools, these also helped in ground water recharge. But the city has grown around them and these structures are getting fragmented and encroached.
Most of the bundhs, located right in the heart of the city and occupying prime real estate, have ceased to serve the purpose for which these had been built. Various citizen groups are demanding that these should be protected as green areas.
The Chhatarpur bundh is 5.2-km-long starting from Chakarpur village to Sector 56, Gurgaon. It crosses three main east-west roads, and runs parallel to the two high-speed north-south roads in Gurgaon City. Rao Narbir Singh said that the portion from Chakarpur village to Paras Hospital was being renovated by HUDA and the area from Paras Hospital to Sector 56 would be renovated by the Forest Department.