Initiative to protect sparrow unveiled
Delhi’s first Goreya Gram in Garhi Mandu City Forest to increase the population of sparrows in Delhi has been developed.
Environment, Forests and Wildlife Minister Gopal Rai, visited the Garhi Mandu City Forest in East Delhi today to see the city’s first Goreya Gram.
During the visit, the invited delegates and other people were also made aware about the Sparrow bird through Nukkad Natak (street play). This Goreya Gram has also provided a natural habitat for butterflies. In addition, a herbal garden facility has been made available to the general public.
“The Delhi government is taking all necessary steps to improve the environment in Delhi and reduce pollution levels. In a similar vein, the government has established the first Goreya Gram in Garhi Mandu City Forest to protect the Delhi state bird, the sparrow. The primary goal of this Goreya Gram is to provide ecological assistance to sparrows,” said Rai.
He added: “In recent years, the number of sparrows in Delhi has steadily decreased. Several studies have linked this to increasing urbanisation in Delhi, indiscriminate pesticide use, and even electromagnetic radiation. Sparrow birds have been suffering from a food shortage as a result of increased pesticide use in agriculture, and their species is rapidly extinction.”
He said: “Garhi Mandu City Forest is one of the four city forests that will be developed to world-class standards, we have developed Delhi’s first sparrow village there. The department has very well depicted the life cycle of a sparrow in this Goreya Gram. Insect houses have been constructed here for sparrow birds so that they do not have to forage for food. Nesting holes have been built here as well, due to the scarcity of nesting holes in cities.”
He said: “The department has planted native berries, grass and shrubs like Karonda and Kundli here for sparrows. Along with this, feeder boxes, artificial nests and earthen pots have also been kept in the Goreya Gram. Along with this, natural habitats have also been developed for butterflies. Due to which their number has already seen a considerable increase.”
Rai said: “Facilities for sparrow birds as well as the general public have been developed in Goreya Gram. An herbal garden has also been accessible to the general public. This herbal garden offers people free medicinal plants to use at home. Plants like Patharchatta, Carom, Tulsi, and Aloe Vera are among them.”
The move was welcomed by Okhla residents, who said it is a good step and expressed hope that it would lead to the return of house sparrows in Delhi. “The dwindling sparrow population is not a good sign for the environment. Although the real cause of their decline is still under study, residents attribute it to the cutting of trees, increased construction in Okhla, and the invasion of their habitat by other wildlife, such as pigeons,” said bird watcher and sparrow lover Md Rizwan.
He said many residents have started placing food and even nests on their balconies in the hope that sparrows will return and feel comfortable perching on them.
