Last updated: March 2023
Raipur city is known as the seventh-most polluted city in the world (2, 3, 4). In response to the escalating problem of air pollution and its public health effects, the state of Chhattisgarh in India has envisioned the creation of a verdant and healthy natural space for urban inhabitants in the heart of Raipur - the Oxi-zone (3).This project acts as the 'Breathing lungs for Raipur' (1, 2). Approximately 19 acres of land were allocated to create an ‘oxy-zone’, including the demolition of buildings to plant trees in their place (1, 2, 4). Inspired by the iconic Central Park of New York City, and suggested by a local citizen group, the Oxi-zone aims to transform this area into a thriving habitat for diverse species of trees and plants, which will also provide water bodies to replenish the groundwater in the vicinity (2, 3, 4). In summary, this project is an integrated green space, enabling residents to relax, meditate and exercise within the “shadow of nature” (3, 4).
Pond for water recharge at Oxyzone
Available at https://in.worldorgs.com/catalog/raipur/amusement-park/oxyzone
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
- To provide Raipur city with its much-needed breeze and cleaner air
- To create a 'Micro-Forest' in the heart of Raipur city and to maintain the green balance in the city
- To develop a home for diverse species of trees and plants, which especially generate large quantities of oxygen
- To develop water bodies to recharge groundwater levels, and restore existing lakes and ponds in the city
- To offer recreational spaces for the urban inhabitants
- To develop Raipur city as an example of effective environmental conservation (1,2,3,4)
Implementation activities
The Oxyzone Project was implemented by the Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation Limited as a much-needed green lung for Raipur City (1, 2). The project led to the creation of an urban forest in the heart of the city, with the government choosing to dismantle infrastructure and forego a plot of land worth Rs 1,000 crore for the project. (6) This previously built-up area, which had no lawns or manicured gardens, is now home to trees, plants, and ponds for groundwater recharge (1, 2). The plantation drive of 5000 trees took place in two stages, with the first stage covering 12 acres of green space and the second stage covering 7 acres (1). The plantation included specific species of trees and ornamental plants that provide maximum oxygen, such as Banyan trees (1, 4). The project also created human-made water bodies and revived existing lakes and ponds to increase the availability of groundwater (Ref. 2) and planted saplings on roadsides, traffic dividers and other available lands as a flood prevention measure for the monsoon season (Ref. 4). The created area also offers a range of recreational activities such as walking and jogging pathways, meditation and yoga zones, children's play areas, and open gyms (1, 2, 3, 4). Additionally, an Oxy-Reading Zone was created, which serves as an indoor-outdoor library and study nook for students and reading enthusiasts to read, learn, and engage in a verdant environment (1, 4).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Oxy-zone project was led by the Government of Chhattisgarh (regional government) and by the District Collector and his team (local government), primarily to improve the air quality of the city by planting more trees (1,2). Raipur District Administration also plays a role in promoting greenery in the city and reviving local lakes and ponds (4).
The project was implemented on the ground by the Chhattisgarh State Forest Development Corporation Limited (CSFDCL), a company created under the Companies Act, and established by the Government of Chhattisgarh (Regional Government) (1).
Despite the local government being the initiating actor and being responsible for the implementation of the project, "the idea for this oxy-zone, came from a citizens group", and the "Raipur District Collector took this wish of the people to the Chief Minister of Chattisgarh Raman Singh", who decided to consider the idea and develop a plan for the intervention (6).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Skoch Award Nominee. (2017). Oxyzone Raipur. Chhatisgarh State Forest Development Corporation Ltd., available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
2. Krish, Sakshi. (2021). Raipur’s Growing An 18 Acre ‘Oxy-Zone’ Forest Right In The Heart Of The City. HOMEGROWN Explore, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
3. Kaiser, Ejaz. (2017). Urban Raipur to breathe clean air with a replica of New York’s central park. The New Indian Express, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
4. Gupta, Surbhi. (2017). Raipur Authorities Demolish 70 Buildings; Pave Way For An Oxy-Zone. PROPTIGER, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
5. Raipur. Government of Chhattisgarh. (2023). OXY Reading Zone. National Informatics Center, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, available at Source link (accessed 25-01-2023)
6. The Better India (2017) While the World Fells Trees to Construct Buildings, Raipur Demolishes Buildings to Make a Forest, available at Source link (accessed 24-03-2023)
7. Etvharat (2020) Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel inaugurates oxy zone in Raipur, available at Source link (accessed 24-03-2023)
2. Krish, Sakshi. (2021). Raipur’s Growing An 18 Acre ‘Oxy-Zone’ Forest Right In The Heart Of The City. HOMEGROWN Explore, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
3. Kaiser, Ejaz. (2017). Urban Raipur to breathe clean air with a replica of New York’s central park. The New Indian Express, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
4. Gupta, Surbhi. (2017). Raipur Authorities Demolish 70 Buildings; Pave Way For An Oxy-Zone. PROPTIGER, available at Source link (accessed 18-01-2023)
5. Raipur. Government of Chhattisgarh. (2023). OXY Reading Zone. National Informatics Center, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, available at Source link (accessed 25-01-2023)
6. The Better India (2017) While the World Fells Trees to Construct Buildings, Raipur Demolishes Buildings to Make a Forest, available at Source link (accessed 24-03-2023)
7. Etvharat (2020) Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel inaugurates oxy zone in Raipur, available at Source link (accessed 24-03-2023)
Oxyzone Park Entrance
Captured from YouTube, available at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23raipurcityoxyzonepark
Mini Forest by Tree Plantations
Available at https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/raipur-becomes-india-s-first-city-to-build-a-micro-forest-wants-to-create-an-oxy-zone-324085.html
OXY Reading Zone
By Chhattisgarh Forest Development Corporation Ltd., available at https://raipur.gov.in/gallery/oxy-reading-zone/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.