Water Body in Sec B1 Vasant Kunj Gets a New Lease of Life
The water body had been neglected for long and was close to extinction. Part of it had been encroached upon because of which the area of the water body had shrunk by half from 2.24 hectares to 1.2 hectares.
With the efforts of Vinod Kumar Jain, Founder of ‘Tapas’, an NGO, the water body got a new lease of life when in 2001 the Delhi High Court directed that Baba Adangnath talab be developed. However, DDA, the land owning agency, delayed in developing it. It was only after much persuasion and follow up that in 2016 the DDA started developing the water body. Encroachments were removed, area was reclaimed and work towards conservation of the water body was completed. A fence surrounding the water body has now been put up. There is a Mandir inside the water body compound. But further encroachment in the form of Vasant Kunj Plaza still exists.
Treated water from STP has been diverted into the water body, which is unfortunately not of bathing standards as its Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) level is high. Therefore, fish and other aquatic life also cannot survive in the water. DJB has been asked to improve the quality of treated water.
Many would remember that in 2001, PWD had tried filling the ‘Neela Hauz’ to widen the road. It was due to High Court interference that PWD was summoned by the Court and restrained from filling the ‘Neela Hauz’, which led to building of the present carriageway.
Samvada Editor Amit Aggarwal adds: Delhites need to understand the effort that went into the fight for survival of water bodies was huge and unbelievable. Only few people like Vinod Kumar Jain could achieve some results against the land mafia.
I wanted to add to what Arvind ji has written that initially DDA had various options to fill the water body naturally by connecting Aruna Asaf Ali road drains. I often visit the site especially during Saturday weekly market and find it very beautiful, but if filled with natural rain water it’s going to be a big attraction in VK. Visualizing this I visited it especially during rains to see how much water is flowing from drains but my bad luck, it was negligible. On further exploring other possibilities we suggested that DDA diverts adjoining DAV school, Delhi Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Masonic Public School and Fortis Hospital’s rain water drains including water from rooftops. Even the rainwater drains of Sector B-1 can be utilized to fill the water body. Hopefully with joint efforts of all we can achieve our dreams.
