Prohibit entry of petrol or diesel driven vehicles into City Forest: #GDA chief

GHAZIABAD: Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) vice-chairman Vijay Yadav on Friday imposed a ban on entry of diesel and petrol-driven vehicles into the City Forest. Yadav was on an inspection of the eco-friendly park being developed by GDA on the banks of Hindon River near Raj Nagar Extension.

He gave the order after he came across project officials, engaged in construction work, driving around in their personal vehicles. “The park is being developed as an eco-friendly destination. We are not even allowing any kind of concrete construction work inside. If vehicles powered by fossil fuels, emitting exhaust fumes, are driven inside the park, the very rationale behind the park would be lost. There are battery-operated carts and cycle tracks inside. Visitors can use them after parking their vehicles outsides. If at all one needs to be driven around, they should use the battery-operated carts,” Yadav told TOI.

The vice-chairman said all efforts would be undertaken to complete the remainder of the work on the park within the stipulated time limit. Following the visit, Yadav sanctioned a herbal garden and a butterfly garden to be developed within the park. He also issued directions for more rare species of trees to be planted inside the forest park.

The GDA is currently organizing a summer camp at the City Forest, where gaming activities are being conducted in association with a number of schools and educational institutes, as well as the Civil Defense. GDA is developing the City Forest over a total area of 150 acres, in accordance with provisions contained in its Master Plan 2021. The first phase of the project was thrown open to public in March this year.