Lodhi Garden moving towards becoming India’s first high-tech park
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is in the process of installing the QR codes which when scanned by a visitor will give details of a tree, including its age, lifespan, botanical name, common name, blooming season among others.
Starting this year, people visiting Lodhi garden (a city park situated in New Delhi) can get information of the trees by just scanning the QR codes assigned to them with the help of one’s smartphones. When scanned by a visitor, it will give details of a tree including its age, lifespan, botanical name, common name, blooming season, height, width, texture, colour of its flowers, fruiting period, medicinal and other usages, origin among others.
The project may turn out to be a key component of the government’s effort to increase the awareness of public about the environment, in general, and urban forestry, in particular. For now, a total of hindered trees have been selected for this initiative and will slowly be given to all of the trees of the park and that area.
“I think it’s a great initiative by those who planned it. I know absolutely nothing about trees, and maybe the information that I get after scanning the QR codes, might help me to know more about the kind of trees that are planted in the city. It is also an interesting way to learn for children. I think schools should pay more visits to these parks and teach young children about them. Metaphorically, this has given the trees a voice through which they can feel alive and is a wonderful way for familiarising visitors with them,”says Samarth Goyal, a 29 year old resident of New Delhi while talking to Media India Group.
The hundred trees were shortlisted after a study to ensure that only the most unique trees get QR codes first so as to grab the eyeballs of the visitors.
As there is little architecture from these periods remaining in India, Lodhi Garden is an important place of preservation. Built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din Alam Shah as a tribute to Mohammed Shah, the iconic garden in the national capital has been the epitome of beautiful ancient architecture and scenic nature. Spread across 90 acres, the garden has around seven thousand species of trees and attracts almost thousands of nature lovers daily.
Rare sight in Delhi: A clear blue sky during the windy afternoon at the Lodhi Gardens pic.twitter.com/OX37bxj6UY
— S lrfan Habib (@irfhabib) January 9, 2019
The Lodhi Garden QR codes that are being installed on certain trees by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), is not the first that has given the park an edge in the city. A ‘high-tech’ nursery – which enables the maintenance of a controlled atmosphere, with high humidity and a low temperature of 20-26 degree Celsius was inaugurated by L-G Anil Baijal at the garden last year. In 2017, NDMC also installed WiFi in the park so that the visitors could surf free internet. It was the first time in any park that the service was provided using smart poles which are LED streetlights equipped with Wi-Fi facility and security cameras.
As Delhi has been reeling under severe dust pollution for the past few months, the deteriorating air quality is a matter of serious concern and local bodies should take more such initiatives on a priority basis to combat pollution with sustained efforts to enhance green belt.