Meet the eco-entrepreneur who’s rising a forest for Delhi | Newest Information Delhi

The 12 months was 1989 when the headlines learn, ‘Ashwani Khurana: The Highest Revenue Taxpayer in India’. However that was clearly not the trail this Delhiite needed to stay to. For him, the pursuit of happiness lay in practising in addition to passionately selling the idea of accountable residing. Lower to 2023, the then ‘Lottery King’ of NCR is now ruling the jungle whereas successful the battle between people and Nature.

“I met Padma Shri Nek Chand (the creator of the Rock Backyard of Chandigarh) on the age of 19,” remembers Khurana from his go to again within the day, including, “After I was round 25, I obtained my first piece of farmland on the outskirts of Delhi.” That is the place he not solely began planting bushes, however even gave himself a “private affirmation of 10 years time” with a goal of planting 10,000 bushes a 12 months.

On the skin, he may simply seem because the one helming the venture of Karma Lakelands in Gurugram. However, delve deeper and his imaginative and prescient of making a one-of-a-kind eco-friendly golf resort unfurls. “It’s a no-smoking zone with just a few smoking factors. No single-use plastic is allowed on the premises. If golfers or guests need to seize a drink, on the go, we inform them to take the glass or cup and considered one of our workers members will accumulate it later.”

“I’m a person of unusual intelligence,” he says, making it additional intriguing to understand how he modified the sport along with his method of maintaining social causes earlier than profit-making. No marvel he has reaped the advantages in abundance. Is that why the identify of the resort displays his ideology and perception in ‘karma’? “Completely, sure! We’re pushed by karma, to be extra inclusive. In my enterprise life, I used to promote 20 million lottery tickets per week. After I determined to make use of the reverse aspect of the lottery tickets for promoting, I selected social promoting over business. This gave Sikkim Lotteries such credibility that we have been quickly promoting 50 million tickets a day! It’s my karma that has made me what I’m right this moment,” he provides.

When on the trail to reform, there’s no stopping, and such is the case with this crusader as effectively. “Within the subsequent 10 years, I see this venture as a billion-dollar one, which may have not less than 1,000 households residing right here and it might be a really profitable golf course in addition to a golf resort. We will likely be a mannequin for acutely aware and accountable residing,” Khurana concludes.

Writer tweets @HennaRakheja

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