Jaipur: In a remarkable transformation, the barren landscape of Nichla Mandwa village in Udaipur district has been turned into a thriving ecosystem through an initiative led by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, which he undertook when he was chairperson of the Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC).The transformation of Nichla Mandwa, part of a larger nation-wide project to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, began in June 2021 when the local community offered 25 acres of gram sabha land for rejuvenation. KVIC collaborated with Ahmedabad-based National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) to prepare the land for mass plantation. The project involved planting 5,500 plants, including bamboo species from Assam, and fruit-bearing trees like guava, amla, papaya, and mango.With a solar-powered borewell to meet watering needs, and a defunct check-dam set in order, organic mulching from nearby hotels was used to strengthen the plantation. “Bamboos were specially chosen for their resilience, less water requirement and significantly high water retention, that, in turn, helps raise water tables apart from emitting 30% more oxygen and providing a seal against UV Rays. Amla, Guava, Mango, Moringa – all fruiting trees were chosen to introduce new fauna – mammals, reptiles and arthropods, apart from enriching the floral diversity,” Saxena said on X Saturday, following his visit to Nichla Mandwa on Sept 4.“Nichla Mandwa stands as a testimony of how a low-cost project can foster an eco-system that boosts once scarce natural resources, enriches people’s lives and counters the larger threat of global warming,” Saxena added, saying that the transformation of a barren landscape in just four years, and at a cost of just Rs 5 lakh, was amazing.
From Barren To Blooming: The greening of Nichla Mandwa village in Udaipur dist | Jaipur News
