New Delhi, Jan 18 (NationPress) The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, expressed his delight and satisfaction on Sunday regarding the overwhelmingly enthusiastic participation from the public at the Third International Kite Festival hosted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at the Baansera grasslands near the Yamuna.

What added to his joy was that both the venue and the event stem from his own vision.

In a message shared on the social media platform X, the L-G mentioned, "The International Kite Festival, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at DDA's Baansera on January 16 is quickly becoming a must-visit event on the calendar of the national capital."

“On its inaugural day, starting at 1 p.m., it attracted 3,000 attendees, 9,000 on the second day, and over 15,000 by 4 p.m. today. The concurrent 11th International Dance and Music Festival organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is also receiving a warm response,” he wrote.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the three-day International Kite Festival on Friday.

DDA Vice-Chairman N. Saravana Kumar stated that the opening ceremony was held at Birsa Munda Chowk in Baansera.

Earlier, in August 2024, the DDA opened and encouraged residents to visit the restored grasslands along the Yamuna floodplains at Baansera near Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi.

Just before the kite festival commenced, the L-G posted a short video on X showcasing the transformation of the area, captioned, "Baansera -- From Degradation to Restoration as a Green Oasis".

“Motivated by PM Narendra Modi Ji's ambitious vision to restore 2.6 crore hectares of degraded land in the country by 2030, we initiated our efforts in Delhi on May 28, 2022, right after I assumed office as L-G,” he added.

“During a visit to a severely degraded and polluted area along the Yamuna, opposite Sarai Kale Khan on the Ring Road, Baansera – the home of bamboos was conceptualized. What followed was not just restoration but a complete transformation within merely 18 months, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Delhi Development Authority @official_dda,” L-G Saxena stated in a post on X.

Identifying the DDA as the protector of the Yamuna floodplains in Delhi, the L-G noted, "Today, with approximately 30,000 bamboo trees soaring over 30 feet tall, alongside other native trees and the lush landscape of green grass, flowers, and water bodies, Baansera has emerged as a unique recreational spot and an ecological marvel in Delhi."