Gachibowli’s Bio-Diversity Park remains out of bounds for visitors

October 16, 2013 12:16 am | Updated November 16, 2021 09:43 pm IST - HYDERABAD:

The commemorative pylon for the bio-diversity park. — Photo: G. Ramakrishna

The commemorative pylon for the bio-diversity park. — Photo: G. Ramakrishna

The eco-conservation hype generated when the International Bio-diversity Summit was held last year seems to be dissipating. It has been a year since the 15-acre Bio-Diversity Park at Gachibowli came into being with a commemorative pylon, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Several varieties of plants were procured and planted at the site at that time, but it was then.

The much-hyped-about park is now under lock and key, out of bounds for the discerning visitor.

No one is allowed inside to have a look at the varied plant life.

The park was set up within the A.P. Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) layout at a total cost of more than Rs. 2 crore. It is said to be having about 400 rare and endangered plant species.

But, unless special permission is obtained from the authorities, visitors, even school children, are not allowed inside.

Even this green space within the new growth region was obtained after some intense lobbying by environmentalists and officials with the powers that be prior to the Bio-Diversity Summit. The government had also appointed a five-member committee of officials to oversee the upkeep of the park.

But, the panel, which comprises top officials from the Environment and Forests Department, A.P. Bio-Diversity Board, APIIC and the GHMC, has not met even once till date.

Officials say that rather than selling the environs, including a hillock adjoining the bio-diversity park, said to be more 200 acres, it is better to declare the entire site as a bio-diversity zone.

“It would be an ideal carbon sink within the new growth region,” they affirm.

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