Sunday 25 October 2015

Noida plans 75-acre biodiversity park in Sector 91

NOIDA: Noida could soon boast a biodiversity park. A presentation of the concept plan of the 75-acre park in Sector 91 was made to senior Noida Authority officials on Saturday. An estimate of the project is being readied and will be sent to IIT-Delhi for vetting soon.

According to officials, an in-principle approval has already been given to the project by Rama Raman, chairperson and CEO, Noida Authority. To be readied in a phased manner, the project is estimated to come at a cost of around Rs 50 crore and should be in place within two years. "Once in place, the park will be a significant contribution in mitigating the effects of global warming and climate change," Raman said.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Cheetal_(spotted_deer)_at_Van_Vihar_National_Park.jpg
"Rapid urbanisation in the city is primarily responsible for vanishing of the flora and fauna. However, we plan to change all that," he said. "Development of this community park will go a long way in improving the environment and adding to the green lung of Noida and its surrounding areas," Raman said.

Explaining the project, Rajesh Prakash, additional CEO of Noida Authority, said that Noida Biodiversity Park is planned as an exposition of the biodiversity that may be possible to exist in the various biomes that could be suitably recreated in the soil type and climate of the Delhi-NCR region. The four natural divisions (namely, Kohi, Bangar, Khadar & Dabar) observed in the region besides grasslands, wetlands include other subsidiary plantations like groves of culturally significant plants and trees, fruit-bearing tree orchards, bambusetum and medicinal and herbal plants.

"The park with its proposed ecosystems, is envisaged to provide a good opportunity to learn about prominent species of plants and animals, seed germination, bioremediation, ecosystem redevelopment, food webs, and life history strategies through indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces," the ACEO said.

The different components of the biodiversity park will be illustrated metaphorically through the various parts of the Palash Flower, which every school child knows and relates to it from a young age. The 'Receptacle' will denote the entrance and parking. The outer 'Sepals' will signify the public areas - amphitheatre, exhibition spaces and picnic gardens. The biomes (forest ecosystems) possible in their miniature form will be recreated in the six 'petals' of the Palash flower. The 'Bee flight' or the peripheral path (about 3km long) passing through the various valleys will be the cycle / golf-cart track, permitting movement across the various biomes.

"A winding path representing the helix of the 'DNA' will be laid about the main central path, aligned right across the various biomes in a series of 7-metre-wide straight path segments with shifting axes, with pavilions (resting place) in between. The low-lying linear stretches of seasonal ponds will signify the swathes of 'Nectar' or the elixir of life (water)," Prakash said.

"There will be over 80 species of native and naturalised tree species and over 120 species of shrubs, herbs and other plants proposed with varieties like Dhak, Shisham, Neem, Goolar, Dhau, Amaltas, Kusum, Peepal, Bargad, Mango, Mahua, Chorisia, Jhand, Peelu, Ronjh, Khajoor, Kachnar, Bakain, Maulsiri and several others," said Om Beer Singh, director horticulture, Noida. "The complete lighting requirement of the park including irrigation pumps is proposed to be met through solar energy," Prakash said.
Source: Times of India

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