An ornamental garden on an 18-acre site in Madhavaram will be developed in a year.
Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S.Arumugam laid the foundation stone for the garden on Wednesday. He said the ornamental garden to be created at a cost of Rs.5.93 crore is one of the five such parks planned across the State. The list includes the Rs.21 crore botanical garden coming up on Cathedral Road.
The proposed facility in Madhavaram would have different types of flowers and also a herbal garden. The plants grown in the nursery attached to the herbal garden would be provided to farmers, as part of the measures to augment their revenue, he said.
Officials of the Horticulture and Plantation Crops department said fountains, birds' sanctuary, auditorium and children play area would also be set up at the Madhavaram garden.
The Horticulture Training Centre in Madhavaram would also be upgraded to Horticulture Management Institute at a cost of Rs.3.90 crore.
Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Arumugam said a decision on providing relief to farmers of Tiruvallur district whose crops were destroyed during the recent rain would be taken soon.
Director of Horticulture and Plantation Crops B. Chandra Mohan said the Horticulture Training Centre offered refresher programme to farmers and in-service training to officials.
At present, about 80 students are undergoing training for two-year diploma in horticulture at the training centre. Nearly 1,400 farmers belonging to Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts are given training in cultivation. The upgraded institute would offer short-term courses and conduct seminars for farmers.
North Chennai Member of Parliament T. K. S. Elangovan said hundreds of acres of land belonging to various government departments that are not being used must also be turned into horticulture farms to add to the greenery in Madhavaram.
Madhavaram Municipality Vice-Chairman S. Sudarsanam said a board for mango cultivators must be developed on the lines of Coconut Welfare Board. Commissioner of Agriculture S. Kosalaraman and Commissioner of Agricultural Marketing Atul Anand spoke.
