ASI launches green drive near Siri Fort

The Capital witnessed its inaugural tree-plantation drive near the ruins of Siri Fort wall near the Siri Fort Auditorium on Friday.The green drive, which aims to spread the message of 'from culture to nature', was inaugurated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - the custodian of heritage

The Capital witnessed its inaugural tree-plantation drive near the ruins of Siri Fort wall near the Siri Fort Auditorium on Friday.

The green drive, which aims to spread the message of ‘from culture to nature’, was inaugurated by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - the custodian of heritage monuments - which had roped in a number of schoolchildren for the plantation. The drive, which kicked off at Siri Fort, one of ASI’s prime sites in south Delhi, will be followed by similar drives at several other sites.

The ASI has as many as 174 monuments and vast swathes of land under its protection across Delhi. Several of these monuments are in south Delhi, which has seen a destruction of green cover due to several infrastructure projects.

“Tughlaqabad, Purana Qila, Red Fort and Adilabad Fort are some of the monuments we have identified. We want to go ahead with plantation but at the same time we have to bear in mind that the roots of bigger trees do not damage the monuments’ walls,” said Basant Swarnakar, ASI’s Delhi circle chief.

Friday’s event at Siri Fort wall saw participation of 180 children from 22 schools. In the sprawling premises, with the ruins of the Siri Fort wall and the bastions as the background, the students planted around 100 saplings.

Archaeological Survey of India had tied up with an environmental NGO, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) for the drive aimed at sensitising students to issues related to culture and heritage.

The students were also taught bird nesting during a workshop that was organised in collaboration with another social organisation Eco Roots Foundation.