[Discussion]: Grasshoppers: ‘Let’s Talk about the Central Ridge’

The Grasshoppers isn't a movement. It isn't an organization with targets or timelines. It is something quieter. A group of people who came together to look more closely at urban spaces we take for granted. And in doing so, are showing us how to look critically at our cities. Delhi’s Forest Department has embarked on a project to restore the Central Ridge. Tenders are being issued for planting trees, creating theme-park Vanas, Miyawaki forest patches. JCBs are trundling back and forth ripping up the soil and sweeping aside old, woody vegetation. For the past few weeks, the Grasshoppers and a few concerned citizens of the National Capital Region have started to put together a Citizen’s Report. It aims to examine closely not just the methodology but the imagination that animates the FD’s restoration of the Ridge. Some of this can be seen in the Working Plan for Delhi’s Forests that the FRI, Dehra Dun has prepared. The rest can be seen in the practical steps that are unfolding now. In this ERA meeting, the group will share and reflect on some of the chapters in the Citizens Report and open the floor for discussion. We will share how one can get involved in this initiative, and maybe together work towards a dream of what the 6.5 square kilometres could become in the heart of the city. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Arjun opens the call 00:04:35 – Pradip shares history of the Central Ridge 00:24:06 – Divya shares the current status 00:29:50 – Vallari shares about Mangar Bani as a possible reference Site 00:35:24 – Vikram shares about the native flora of the Central Ridge 00:45:57 – Malvika shares about the fungal life and the unseen layers under the soil 00:51:48 – Preparing a citizen's report 00:56:31 – Opening up for Q&A 01:25:10 – Parul shares next steps Grasshoppers: Nidhi Batra, Rama Lakshmi Peri, Vallari Sheel, Divya Jakhar, Ghazala Shahabuddin, Malavika Bhatia, Pradip Krishen, Pranay Lal and Vikram Iyer