An ‘Evolution Park,” tracing the origins of life on Earth, would be established at the Anna Science Centre Planetarium in the city over the next few months.
The thematic park will seek to provide an overview to visitors, especially children, on how life originated from a single cell and its evolution to the present day, said P. Iyamperumal, Executive Director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, which runs the planetarium in the city.
Mr. Iyamperumal told The Hindu that the State government had sanctioned Rs. 50 lakh already and there was some delay in executing the project owing to the model code of conduct in force during the Lok Sabha elections. “The park will be established at the planetarium before February,” he said.
According to sources, the park would be established on two acres on the planetarium premises situated on the Tiruchi-Pudukottai Highway showcasing models to demonstrate the evolution of species. Also referred to as Dinosaur Park, it will be on the lines of the one functioning at the Birla Planetarium in Chennai.
The park, which is to come up behind the Planetarium building, will have about 40 to 50 three-dimensional models and some of them will be working models.
The architectural design of the park is being readied now and the models would be procured from Chennai.
The entire park will be landscaped and would become a popular attraction in the city, the sources said.
Apart from the 75-seater planetarium, the science centre has a 3D Theatre which has gained in popularity. The centre has a science park where a few models have been damaged.
Steps were being taken to repair the models, sources said.
Over 500 saplings, provided by the forest department, have been planted on the planetarium premises under a go-green programme.
