All You Need To Know About Dheerpur Wetlands Restoration Project

Wetlands are an integral part of the ecological system where the land area is saturated with water. These can be seasonal or permanent. These wetlands serve many purposes, including water purification, flood control, carbon sink and shoreline stability. These are also known to serve as home to a wide range of plant and animal life.

Found all across the country, there are some that are under serious threat of extinction and need restoration. One such wetland that needed attention was Delhi's Dheerpur. Located in the north of Delhi, this wetland was under threat of dumping of solid waste and storing of sewage water, harming the soil and the aquatic life here. Moreover, coming of residential projects and other infrastructure, the land-use has caused a loss of these wet beds. It was then that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) decided to restore these wetlands.

Now, a restoration work in under progress that aims to make the wetland fit for its ecological functioning also become host to many migratory birds.  

Here is all you need to know about Dheerpur Wetlands Restoration Project:

*The restoration process and the creation of a wetland park is a collaborative project taken up by Centre of Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES), a part of the Ambedkar University Delhi, and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

*This collaboration was formed two years ago in June 2015, under which the DDA holds land ownership, helps in civil works and funds restoration and research work. On the other hand, the CUES ensures the restoration work by organising drives of planting trees, taking samples of the aquatic life and taking measures to restore them, and providing technical guidance for restoration and maintenance.

* The five-year-long project covers an area of 25.38 hectares, which includes restoration and making of the wetland park. Once completed, the park would provide hydrological, regulatory, cultural and aesthetic benefits to the residents of localities, including Ambedkar University Campus, Gandhi Vihar, Mukherjee Nagar and Nirankari Colony. The park will also form a hub for nature education and outreach programmes that will further promote the wetland conservation and long-term urban sustainability.

*In a recent report, it has been said that not much progress had been made in the project in the past one year with the DDA delaying desilting of water bodies. "AUD submitted a detailed plan for desilting the water bodies. It is pending with the DDA for over a year now. Delay on the DDA's part is what is causing problems for the project,” a board member of the project, seeking anonymity, reportedly said.

*While the CUES has performed various plantation drives and introduction of new species into the ecology the desilting of the wetland has brought the project to a standstill. However, R C Jain, a DDA assistant engineer (North) who handles the ground operations, said, "There is no water in the wetland now, there is no question of desilting right now. However, the file is under process and it takes time for the works to start."

*However, certain steps that have already been taken has shown some positive impact. This year a new set of migratory birds were seen at the sight. Some of the birds spotted includes black-winged Stilt, red-naped Ibis, pheasant-tailed Jacana, purple Moorhen, spot-billed Duck, black Cormorant, grey Heron, red-wattled Lapwing and white-breasted Kingfisher