BOTANICAL GARDEN

According to Shankaran, curator of National Parks, rare species were being acquired from various countries and States in the country.But, the garden being developed here is based on the `utility' concept. It will have as many as 3,000 species of trees spread over an area of 125 acres.The entire extent has been divided into 19 sectors, each measuring 3 to 10 acres. Each sector would have specialty --utility trees such as bamboo, palm, medicinal plants, timber, desert, flowering, fruit bearing trees, ornamental and sacred plants.

Landscaping, fountains, rock pool, nursery, water bodies and other such tourist attracting spots would form part of the garden. The work on nursery, rock pool garden and aquatic sector is nearing completion.Besides serving as a recreation spot, the garden has been taken up with the objective of bringing together rare and endangered species. On completion, this would also serve as a `gene pool' of endangered species and help research scholars in the field.

The forest department has undertaken a massive exercise before taking up the work. National Remote Sensing Agency has done the contour survey to identify the natural water bodies where watershed program was taken up. "Water is most important for the park. Already nine bore-wells and two open wells are dug for the purpose", he said.