Wasteland transformed into a riverfront park
MUSSOORIE: Anand Singh Rawat, 64, a resident of Rishikesh, enjoys his morning walk at a 10-hectare park that has been developed by transforming a marshy and wasteland.
This riverfront park at Shivpuri near Rishikesh was created under the Heval river rejuvenation programme. Over ₹90 lakh was allocated for the project to transform the marshy land in the reserve forest into the Heval river waterfront park, according to forest officials.
Earlier, the area was a wasteland that was lying barren with no productivity. Dharam Singh Meena, the conservator of forest, Bhagirathi zone, who was divisional forest officer of Narendra Nagar division back then, was the brains behind the project. He started the work of transforming the waste and marshy land into Heval river waterfront park linking it with eco-tourism and conservation in 2019-20.
Meena said, “The idea germinated when the Heval river rejuvenation programme was going on in the Narendra Nagar forest division in Tehri district. The task of converting the waste and marshy area into a Shivpuri waterfront park and developing it into an eco-tourism zone linking it with conservation activities was taken up. Through a team work the area was completely changed which is now providing solace to not only humans but also birds. Endangered plant species of the area are being preserved in the park.”
The forest department in its endeavour to convert the marshy land took help from Rail
Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) as the land was adjacent to the railway station coming up for the Rishikesh-Karanprayag railway line.
RVNL was asked to dump the muck from the rail project. More than 500 truckloads of material were used to flatten the marshy land after which more around 5,000 species of slightly grown-up trees and saplings were planted along with khus (Vetiver grass) that has strong roots, thus giving the marshy land a green cover, said Meena.
MM Bisht, sub-divisional forest officer of Narendra Nagar forest division, said, “It was a herculean task but on the directions of the senior officials a team of 9 to 10 forest employees took up the challenge and started the work by planting endangered trees and later laying down the Vetiver grass, which led to transforming the area into a productive zone with potential for eco-tourism activities.”
“The Miyawaki system devised by Japanese botanist
Akira Miyaawaki, which takes five years to rejuvenate an area, served as an inspiration for the forest department officials but we are able to complete the work in less than five years,” said Bisht.
Meena said, “The salient features of the Shivpuri Heval riverfront and walkway are that apart from adventure activities, a nursery for the endangered plant species, including medicinal plants, has been set up along with the Ficus garden where the nursery for banyan and other giant varieties of trees is being prepared. It will provide the tourists an ideal opportunity to reconnect with nature and rejuvenate their mind.”
He added, “An arboretum (a botanical garden devoted to trees) has also been set up which will cater to educational needs of students. Emphasis will be given to educate students and tourists about the need to conserve endangered plant species.”
The forest department plans to extend the project to an adjacent 9-hectare marshy land to set up a herbal park and create avenues for eco-friendly activities, he said.