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.
Decked with facilities like watch towers, children's park, view points and plantations, the project will not only contribute towards biodiversity conservation and ecological rejuvenation but also towards environmental improvement of cities via pollution mitigation, maintained Divisional Forest Officer (Tirupati Wildlife) G. Srinivasulu.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Srinivasulu maintained that such areas would offer cleaner spaces for people trapped in the concrete jungle of the city and create a sustainable environment with fresh air, noise reduction and aspects of water harvesting. “The current status of the project, with an allocated budget of Rs.2 crore, is that fencing work has been done. Plantation drive was also conducted in the T.N. Palem area and facilities like walkways, shelters (pagodas), drinking water are being revamped in Divyaramam near Kapilatheertam,” he added.
Mr. Srinivasulu further called upon the people, currently using Divyaramam for jogging and meditation activities, to register themselves with the Forest Department and get their identity cards.
Water Absorption Trenches
Besides this, the Forest Department is also digging up 'water absorption trenches' in the reserve forest area, to ensure rainwater retention and to stabilise the existing groundwater levels. “We are working with four machines to dig up a trench spanning 75 km in the forest. Three other machines will soon supplement our efforts in creating the water absorption trenches in the area,” he remarked.
Officials have also chosen eight theertams, out of the existing 108, in Tirumala and Tirupati for a comprehensive development. Setting up of check dams, deepening and bund strengthening works will be carried out in the identified percolation tanks/kuntas in the region, with a cost of Rs.1 crore.
With regard to the rampant red sanders smuggling activities, the forest department has identified 13 main entry and exit points in the region, and set up Intensive Vigilance and Intervention System (IVIS) cameras, which would in turn notify special response teams to deal with the situation.
