Hari Nagar lake to get fresh lease of life

Following a mandate by the Ministry of Urban Development that projects be taken up to improve and regenerate green areas in the capital, DUAC decided to develop Hari Nagar lake (also called Tihar Lake park). The proposal will be presented to the Ministry by year-end, officials said.

“The idea is to replenish the lake and rejuvenate greenery. However, water level has depleted over the past years. Boating, which was an attraction four years ago, has stopped. The club and the restaurant are lying unused. There are no defined entrances to the lake and and the low boundary wall gives easy access to trespassers. The place is increasingly used for cattle grazing and petty crimes,” a DUAC official said.

Officials said the proposal includes a three-pronged approach — recharging the lake, urban infrastructure regeneration and developing local shopping areas.

To recharge the lake, DUAC has proposed using the DEWATS system (decentralised wastewater treatment system). This converts the black/grey water (sewage) to freshwater which can be used for irrigation and to recharge the lake. The DEWATS capacity is calculated according to population density in surrounding areas.

The department has identified all bus stops and Metro stations nearby to connect all these to the six areas around the lake — Masjid Park (eight acres), Udham Singh park (7.5 acres), Press Colony park (10.7 acres), MCD and DDA park (6.4 acres), Ramgadia park (8.5 acres) and Nikatwati park (20 acres).

“We will install container blocks which will have shops and daily stores. The containers, which are made of fibre, are easy to install and need low maintenance. They will have solar panels. Each container block will have pipes to enable rainwater harvesting,” a senior DUAC official said.

“We have also created tracks for cycles and e-rickshaws which can take commuters from bus stops and Metro stations to these areas. The tracks will connect all the seven green areas. The art gallery, which will be at the centre of the plaza, will feature the history of Delhi. The restaurants will have open spaces for families to dine facing the lake,” an official said.