New Delhi Oct 23 PTI Educational institutions private firms NGOs RWAs and general citizens can now book DDA parks for hosting art and cultural events a move the urban body on Saturday said aims at rejuvenating and enlivening Delhis green spacesA senior official said the policy has gone live a couple of days agoAbout 20 parks are available for booking as per the policy including Lake Park Pitampura Sanjay Lake Mayur Vihar Indraprastha Park Ring RoadSwarn Jayanti Park Rohini Ashta Kunj Park Nehru Palace Coronation Park Burari and Satpula Park Malviya NagarThere are about 800 parks under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development AuthorityIndian citizens and agencies belonging to various categories will be eligible to book the parks for art and culture-oriented events in some of the designated parks of the DDA The aim is to rejuvenate and enliven the green environment of the city the official saidAccording to the policy drafted last November political functions and marriage ceremonies will not be allowed for booking in parksAlso no cooking shall be allowed inside the park Only ready-to-eat food shall be permitted for consumption on the site The site will be restored to its initial state according to the policyAny Indian citizens schools colleges and universities cultural and educational societies registered under Societies Registration Act 1860 registered non-government organisations companies registered under the Companies Act 2013 and residents welfare associations duly registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 or DDA Management and Disposal of Housing Estates Regulations 1968 can make a booking officials saidThe general public is invited to hold events as per the policy wherein promotion of art and culture is envisaged This initiative is open for public with the aim of improving the quality of life of citizens and increasing the happiness index of the city the urban body saidIdentified facilities at the parks included under this policy have been classified into two categoriesThe Category A refers to open park area clearly delineated for the purpose while Category B will entail specific facilities like amphitheaters boat clubs within these parksBookings can be made for 6-12 hours durations and rates will differ as per the area of the park These details are available on the official DDA website officials saidIn case the entry ticket to the proposed event levied by the organiser is above Rs 1000 in any category the DDA would charge an additional Rs 20000 along with prescribed booking amount according to the policyAlso last October the DDA had relaxed the norms for adopting a DDA park to encourage public participation in promoting greenery in DelhiAccording to the DDAs Adoption of Park Policy 2019 only parks with area larger than three acres are made available for adoption by various agencies for maintenanceThis criteria has been amended and now Public Sector Undertakings authoritiesboards constituted under the government residents welfare association duly registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 or DDA Management and Disposal of Housing Estates Regulations 1968 can adopt parks of any size the DDA had then saidThe park would be available for adoption initially for three years following which adoption may be extended further in installments of three years with the DDAs approval up to maximum period of 12 years or till it is under the jurisdiction of DDA in case of handing over of park to local authorities whichever is earlier according to the park adoption policyHowever when the 12 years period is complete the agency may apply afresh PTI KND TDS TDS