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Aravalli Ash Dump to Bloom as Miyawaki Forest
2 Jul
Summary
- Haryana plans Miyawaki forest on 150-acre ash dump site.
- The project aims to restore ecological balance and improve air quality.
- A phased approach will begin with a trial plantation on 15-20 hectares.
Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) has proposed a significant environmental restoration project, planning a dense plantation drive across a 150-acre site in the Aravalli range. This land, previously used as a fly ash disposal site for the defunct Faridabad Thermal Power Station, will be transformed into a Miyawaki forest.
The initiative is in compliance with an April NGT order mandating the site's environmental restoration after its ash clearing. HPGCL submitted a compliance report detailing the plan to convert the ash dyke, which held an estimated 40 lakh metric tonnes of pond ash, into a thriving native forest.
A joint committee recommended a phased plantation strategy, beginning with a trial on 15 to 20 hectares. This pilot phase will rigorously test soil health, focusing on pH levels, nutrient content, and potential heavy metal contamination. Based on these results, resilient, indigenous species will be selected for planting, with survival rates and growth patterns closely monitored.
The project aims to restore the ecological balance of the Aravalli landscape, significantly improving local air quality and groundwater recharge within two to three years. Unlike previous reforestation efforts that used exotic species, this project will exclusively use native plants to rebuild the region's natural forest ecosystem.
