New Delhi

Vasant Kunj residents up in arms

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 3. Protesting against the ongoing construction activity around the site proposed for the Vasant Kunj Mall by the Delhi Development Authority, concerned citizens held a demonstration near the controversial 640 hectares located on Mahipalpur-Mehruali Road today.

Raising concern for the destruction of the natural heritage of Delhi's fast vanishing greens and the falling water table of the area, activists blamed the authorities for leaning towards commercial activities. "The water table in this area has already fallen drastically. It will fall even more as these malls come up. It is, us the residents of Vasant Kunj and Vasant Vihar, who are facing problems. We have wait for water. Why should we suffer this? Doesn't the environment cell of DDA realise the problems that are coming up because of this?" said a resident of the area, Amit Aggarwal.

Geologically defined as part of the Ridge by the Geological Survey of India in 1997, activists have been fighting for the preservation of the area. "This used to be a totally green area. I used to come here for walks and there were at least 8 to 10 natural water bodies. They used to attract birds, even migratory birds. But today, the area is completely barren. This is a natural catchment area," claimed an activist, Vikram Soni.

According to the protesters, the area had also been given the status of `Forest' by Delhi Government's Forest Department in 1997-2003 and defined as a water catchment area by the Central Groundwater Board in 1997.

Questioning whether Delhi could afford to destroy this precious natural heritage, he said, "Can we destroy this for Delhi's 151st Mall or housing colony? It is an invaluable natural heritage and critical to the environmental health of our city. This forest ridge cannot be built or rebuilt."

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