SHORT TERM TARGETS
PRE STUDY
NURSERY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
GuruJal plans is to increase the forest cover of Gurugram district by intensive afforestation and to restore the degraded patches of Aravalli hills in the form of Biodiversity Park and Urban City Forest. There is need to increase the forest cover from 9.24% to 10.24% by planting saplings of native species and by preserving 420 acres of biodiversity park of Damdama & Kherla village. It is estimated to produce enough oxygen for 5400 people a year.
Deforestation
Land Degradation
Encroachments
Mining
Pollution
Invasive Species
Development Activities
Community-based ecological restoration of the gram panchayat area of Damdama and Kherla village and to repair the damaged ecosystem caused by human activities and seeks to return the place to an earlier state.
Village Name | Damdama and Kherla |
Location | Sohna Block, District of Gurugram, Haryana |
Lat/Long | 28°18’51.84″N, 77° 7’31.74″E |
Total Population of Damdama and Kherla | 9794 |
Acres/hectares under farming/ Agriculture | 350 acre out of 400 acres – Damdama, 750 acres out of 900 acres – Kherla |
Elevation | 219 above sea level |
Minerals | china clay,lead, quartz, zinc |
Distance from National Capital | 65 km |
Modes of traveling | By Road |
Damdama and Kherla | The lake was commissioned by the British in 1947 for rainwater harvesting. In its current form, however, what makes Damdama Lake enticing is that it is home to over 190 species of native and migratory birds. In monsoons, water levels reach as high as fifty feet and this is when most of the migratory birds are spotted. Damdama Lake is the biggest lake in Haryana and stretches to almost three thousand acres. |
Other local stories & relevance of some gathering and ceremonies | The ranges gives a scenic atmosphere to the lake and one can enjoy boating in row boats, paddle boats and motor boats. Damdama lake provides ample scope for adventure lovers. There are facilities to enjoy trekking near the Aravalli Hills. Apart from these, other attractions here are hot air ballooning, para Sailing, kayaking, cycling, angling, rowing, fishing and nature walks. Navratri Celebrations – Devi Mandir Gathering. |
Relevance of Aravallis | The Aravalis act as a barrier between the fertile plains in the east and the sandy desert in the west. Historically, it is said that the Aravalli range checked the spread of the Thar desert towards the Indo-Gangetic plains, serving as a catchment of rivers and plains. The Aravalli is rich in biodiversity and provides habitat to 300 native plant species, 120 bird species and many exclusive animals like the jackal and mongoose. Aravallis have an impact upon the climate of northwest India and beyond. During monsoons, it provides barrier and monsoon clouds move eastwards towards Shimla and Nainital, thus helping nurture the sub-Himalayan rivers and feeding the north Indian plains. In the winter months, it protects the fertile alluvial river valleys from the cold westerly winds from Central Asia. For Haryana, having the lowest forest cover at around 3.59% of the total forest cover in India, the Aravalli range is the only saving grace, providing the major portion of its forest cover. Aravallis also function as a groundwater recharge zone for the regions around that absorb rainwater and revive the groundwater level. This range is considered the “lungs” for the world’s most polluted air of Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR) |
Tourism Resorts | Holiday home, the gateway resort,Saras Resort |
Cycling/Trekking | City dwellers of Gurgaon get away during the weekends and other mid-week breaks for cycling along the lake. Treks are also popular along the mountain forest |
Dependency on Forest | 3/4 times for cooking purposes – at least 55% of the households in Damdama use fuel wood and 25% of the households in Kherla |
Industries and other commercial activities | Mining of Quartz , Taj Hotel, Gateway Resort, Fishery Department. |
No. of Males and Females | Damdama: male – 2323 , female-1682 Kherla : Female – 2720 Male – 3069 |
Local and Migratory Population | 350 people |
Mining – Minerals, sand, wood, etc. | china clay,lead,zinc,copper,kabuli kheekar |
Oxygen generation potential | 67,576 metric tones of carbon sequestration for period of 15 year |
Oxygen consumption for people | 1 Acre of tree cover = can offset oxygen consumption for 8 people in a year. For an area of 420 acres = can offset oxygen consumption for 3360 people in a year |
Improvement in Soil Quality | Slowing down of water runoff helps with building-up a layer of fine soil and manure particles, rich in nutriet and prevent fertile soil erosion with help of check dam, loose boulder structure ,furrows , earthen gully plugs |
Water Recharge and Quality | 380640 kiloliter, note- The weathered rocks of Aravalli—fissured and highly jointed quartzite, schist and phyllites, make ideal zones for the percolation of rainwater and contribute to the aquifers below. |
Other flora fauna aspects | Acacia nilotica (kikar), Eucalyptus hybrid, E.Canaldulensis (safeda), Dalbergia sisoo (shisham), A. tortilis (Israeli kikar), Prosopis juliflora (vilayati kikar), Albizia procera (siris), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Melia azadirach (bakain). Cassia siamea plantations have been raised successfully. Kikar constitutes about 75 per cent of the total crop. Near and within habitations, ornamental and shade giving trees exist. The common species planted in such areas are – Delonix regia (gulmohar), Cassia fistula (amaltas), C. siamea, Azadirachta indica (neem), Parkinsonia aculeata, Kegelia pinnata, Ficus religiosa (peepal), Ficus bengalensis (barh), Melia azadirach (bakain), Terminalia arjuna (arjun), Pongamia pinnata, P.glabra, Alianthus exelsa (maha neem), Dalbergia sisoo (shisham) etc. The flora includes in total 45 species of trees, 42 species of shrubs, 14 climbers and 29 grasses. |
Need to prevent Deforestation in Aravallis | The rapid deforestation and developmental activities are destroying the unique landscape that requires immediate conservation attention. These vulnerable areas are biologically rich and support several unique elements of flora and fauna. Hence proper assessment and monitoring is necessary for restoration of the biological diversity because lack of ecological information leads to mismanagement. It is not just the biodiversity and forest cover of the Aravalli that underscores their immense importance. The Aravalli also serve as a source of groundwater recharge for the cities of Gurgaon and Delhi, as well as many other cities in its ambit. The aquifers in these ranges are interconnected and any disturbance or alterations in the pattern can significantly alter the groundwater table. A Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) study from June 2017 mapped five transect in the Aravalli that help recharge the groundwater in Gurgaon. These are responsible for channelling groundwater to the Badshapur, Sector 56 and 45, Hariyahera and Bhondsi areas in the city. But with rampant mining and construction taking place in the foothills, the aquifers are increasingly threatened |
Circle rates (Government land rates – residential & commercial) | Residential- 4400 per sq.yard , Commercial – 4800 per sq.yard | |
Khasra numbers | Khasra Number under Section 4 and 5 – 3=4 to 8, 12 to 19, 23 to 25, 4= 1,2, 6 to 25, 5 = 20,21, 6= 1,10 to 12, 18 to 23, 7 = 1 to 25, 8 = 3 to 8, 13 to 29, 22 to 25, 21 = 1 to 9, 12 to 19, 22 to 25, 22 = 1 to 25, 23 = 1 to 4, 7 to 15, 17 to 25, 24 = 1, 25 = 1 to 3, 10, 11, 20, 26 = 2 to 9, 13 to 15. Khasra Number = Gair mumkin Pahar except of Aravalli Plantation -66,38, 8 = 9, 12, 24 = 2,3,4, 25 = 4 | |
PLPA act and regulations | Section 4 – Power to regulate, restrict or prohibit, by general or special order, within notified areas, certain matters. | (a) the clearing or breaking up or cultivating of land not ordinarily under (b) the quarrying of stone or the burning of lime at places where such (c) the cutting of trees or timber, or the collection or removal or subjection (d) the setting on fire of trees, timber or forest produce. (e) the admission, herding, pasturing or retention of sheep, goats or camels. (f) the examination of forest-produce passing out of any such area; and (g) the granting of permits to the inhabitants of towns and villages situate |
Section 5- Power, in certain cases to regulate, restrict or prohibit, by special order within notified areas, certain further matters. | (a) the cultivating of any land ordinarily under cultivation prior to the publication (b) the quarrying of any stone or the burning of any lime at places where such (c) the cutting of trees or timber or the collection or removal or subjection to any (d) the admission, herding, pasturing or retention of cattle generally other than |
Area | Amount (In Kilolitres) annually |
Rain water received (annually) | 951619.2 |
Recharged Potential by using recharge structures like check dams, ridges, furrows and nala bundh | 3,80,640 |
Water recharged by rejuvenating 3 water bodies | 22,257.40 |
Total recharge potential of water annually in millionlitres | 402.89 |
Area | Amount of oxygen produces (in metric ton) |
420 Acre | 29484 per year |
Area | Amount of Carbon Sequester (in metric ton) |
420 Acre | 67536 in 15 years |
For oxygen |
1 tree = Produces 117 kg of Oxygen per year |
1 Acre = 600 trees = 70,200 kg of oxygen per year |
420 Acre = 2,52,000 trees = 29484000 kg = 29484 metric ton of oxygen per year. |
For Carbon Sequestration |
1 tree squester = 268 kg of CO2 for period of 15 years |
1 Acre =600 trees sequester = 160800 kg of CO2 for period of 15 year |
420 Acre = 2,52,000 trees = 67536000 kg = 67536 metric tons capacity of CO2 for period of 15 years |
PRE STUDY
NURSERY DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT