Considered one of the most vulnerable species to changes in climate, the butterfly population has been going down in the city. Now the NDMC wants to play saviour.

On Monday, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh inaugurated a butterfly observatory in Lodhi Gardens, one of two in the city, which will provide a habitat to butterflies. A three-acre area in Lodhi Gardens has been converted into a butterfly observatory, complete with a lily pool and a mud puddle, and 28 species of plants which butterflies feed on. There are also plans to develop a butterfly area in a Commonwealth Games Park being created at the junction of Africa Avenue and Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Marg.

“The last time I saw a butterfly in Delhi was in 1981. Since then, I’ve seen them in Bangalore, but in Delhi they have visibly reduced. Scientists say that butterflies are severely affected by climate change. Clearly they need help,” Ramesh said.

“Let us consider butterflies to be winged ambassadors for the environment. With minimum effort and money, we have managed to get butterflies to breed in the observatory. They need very little to live,” said Suhas Borker from the activist group, Green Circle, who first presented the proposal to NDMC.

Butterflies are set to be part of the Commonwealth Games attractions.

“We are developing the Commonwealth Games park where saplings from different Commonwealth countries will be planted. We’re also developing a butterfly section at the park,” NDMC Chairman Parimal Rai told Newsline.

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