Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has started using Jute Carpeting on pathways, walking/cycling tracks in its parks, especially in those located on the Yamuna floodplains. This came to light after Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday visited Asita Park on Yamuna floodplain where pathways made out of jute are being laid to inspect the work. The move will help to prevent dust pollution and preserve soil erosion from the floodplains to support grass growth naturally, while aiding jute farmers and jute industry.
According to DDA, Saxena has asked for the use of the material also for tracks inside the northern ridge, restoration of which was undertaken by DDA after he visited the location earlier this month.
The Lieutenant Governor who has personally led the creation of several public green spaces along the Yamuna, based on his experience with Jute as Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairperson, asked DDA to use Jute carpeting on the walking/cycling and driving tracks at Asita Park, across the Yamuna opposite ITO.
In a statement, DDA said that the Lieutenant Governor had forbidden concretization in the parks on the Yamuna floodplains, but this in turn had led to the tracks inside the parks generating a lot of dust whenever walkers or cyclists will use them. Apart from causing inconvenience to the users this was also adding to the environmental dust.
“To overcome the same Saxena asked DDA to use loosely knitted Jute carpeting on these tracks. Their use at Asita to begin with has led to desired result of dust mitigation and more. It came to be observed that this extremely cheap and cost effective measure also resulted in grass growing on the earth beneath the carpeting and sprouting through the gaps. This is turn ensured that the carpeting got strongly fixed to the ground’.
Encouraged by the success of this exercise, the LG has directed that the same be replicated on the tracks inside the northern ridge as well, restoration of which was recently undertaken by DDA after Saxena visited the location earlier this month and found the situation there deplorable.
Later on X, LG Delhi said , “DDA will be using Jute Carpeting on all earthen walking tracks in its parks on the Yamuna & inside the Delhi Ridge. Successful experiment at Asita with this cost-effective measure, ensured dust mitigation and resultant benefits for walkers and cyclists”. “The thick loosely knitted Jute Carpeting enables grass to grow on the earthen track beneath it and sprout out- in the process, binding the eco-friendly Jute to the earth. Maintenance free & cost effective, we intend to use this at our parks at Baansera, Asita, Yamuna Vatiika, Amrut etc & the Northern Ridge, which are now becoming popular destinations and visited in large numbers by the people. It will also promote jute artisans’, he said.
