With works on establishing the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory apace in Srirangam, the Forest Department is set to get additional funds for the project.
The Tiruchi-headquartered Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation Limited (TAFCORN) will provide Rs.1 crore for the conservatory which will have a host of facilities .
TAFCORN, a State government undertaking, will provide the funds under its corporate social responsibility scheme for the butterfly conservatory set up by the Forest Department.
A high-level committee headed by the Chief Wildlife Warden has given in principle approval for the host of works listed out by the Forest Department to be executed under the funds to be provided by the TAFCORN.
The funds would be utilised for setting up an interpretation centre, provision of pergolas to a total length of 100 metres, setting up eco-friendly children’s park, rest room, and disabled friendly walkways inside the conservatory, officials told The Hindu . Tenders would soon be floated for executing these works.
The sprawling conservatory has come up on a total area of 25 acres at the Upper Anicut reserve forest in Srirangam situated between the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers.
Nearly 80 per cent of the works have been completed at the conservatory with Rs.7.6 crore funds already provided by the State government.
Construction of breeding laboratory and boundary wall, establishment of an outdoor conservatory, setting up of a passive humidifier on an area of 4,000 square feet, laying disabled-friendly walkways and outdoor conservatory nectar patches were among the slew of works already completed, the department officials said.
Electricity connection has been obtained and five borewells at different points have been sunk to ensure uninterrupted water supply for watering the plants and for supply to the visitors.
The indoor conservatory work is currently under way at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore inside which suitable nectar and roosting plants would be planted.
The conservatory will have a nakshatra vanam inside featuring 27 numbers of trees/ plants species corresponding to the 27 stars of the Hindu Almanac and 12 trees / plants species corresponding to 12 zodiac signs. Planting of different plant species is over inside the vanam .
The objective of setting up the conservatory is to foster in-situ and ex-situ conservation of butterfly species and create awareness among public about the significant role of butterfly species in maintaining ecological equilibrium.
The conservatory would have several butterfly species and thrown open to visitors in the near future, say officials.