Lung spaces, which have been a rarity in urban dwellings, will soon be realised under the 'Nagaravanam' project, in the temple city of Tirupati. The project dubbed as 'city forests' will be set up by the forest department, spread across 350 acres in T.N.Palem and Kapilatheertam areas.
With facilities such as watch towers, children’s park, view points and plantations, the project will not only contribute to conservation of biodiversity and ecological rejuvenation, but also to ensure an improved lung space to the town, says Divisional Forest Officer (Tirupati Wildlife) G. Srinivasulu.
He maintained that such areas would offer the citizen natural environs amid the concrete jungle and fresh air. “A fund of Rs. 2 crore has been allocated to the project and the fencing works have been completed. Plantation drive was also conducted in the T.N. Palem area and facilities such as walkways, shelters (pagodas), drinking water point are being revamped in Divyaramam near Kapilatheertam,” he added.
Mr. Srinivasulu called upon people, who use the Divyaramam for jogging and meditation activities, to register themselves with the Forest Department and get their identity cards.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department is also digging up 'water absorption trenches' in the reserve forest area, to harvest rainwater and stabilise ground water levels. “A trench will dug up in 75 km in the forest,” he remarked.
Officials have also chosen eight teerthams , out of the 108 in Tirumala and Tirupati for their comprehensive development. Building check dams, deepening and bund strengthening works will be undertaken in the identified percolation tanks/kuntas in the region, at a cost of Rs.1 crore.
To keep red sanders smuggling at bay, the Forest Department has identified 13 main entry and exit points in the region, and installed Intensive Vigilance and Intervention System (IVIS) cameras to ensure a strict monitoring of the area.
The project will not only contribute to conservation of biodiversity, but also will ensure a lung space amid the concrete jungle
- G. Srinivasulu,DFO (Tirupati Wildlife)
