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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the third International Kite Festival organised by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) today at Baansera grasslands on the Yamuna floodplains near Sarai Kale Khan.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena will attend as the Guest of Honour, alongside Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
DDA Vice-Chairman N Saravana Kumar confirmed that the inauguration ceremony will take place at Birsa Munda Chowk in Baansera around noon.
The DDA invites citizens to enjoy the three-day festival, celebrating kite-flying and the ecological restoration of the floodplains.
The Baansera area, opened to the public in August 2024, was once a degraded and polluted stretch along the Yamuna.
LG Saxena praised the DDA’s efforts. He posted a video of the transformation on social media.
The Lieutenant Governor described it as ‘Baansera – From Degradation to restoration as a green oasis’.
Saxena further said the project was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to restore 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land across India by 2030.
“We took a baby step in Delhi on May 28, 2022, visiting a heavily degraded stretch along the Yamuna. What followed was not only restoration but reclamation and transformation within 18 months,” he noted.
The floodplain now boasts around 30,000 bamboo trees over 30 feet tall, along with other indigenous trees, green grasslands, flowers, and water bodies.
Saxena described Baansera as a unique recreational and ecological destination in Delhi. He added that it produces 30 per cent more oxygen than ordinary trees and helps restore degraded soil.
“The park now hosts social and cultural events such as kite festivals, yoga sessions, and musical evenings,” he added.
Saxena further urged all Delhi residents to visit and experience the rejuvenated green space. He noted that it demonstrates the potential for ecosystems to recover through natural restoration processes.
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