A project to preserve the ecology along the rocky terrain of Kothwalguda near Himayatsagar on the outskirts while incorporating a host of leisure activities has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.60 crore by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).
For the Eco Park, which is to come up on a spread of 85 acres that include some quarry pits, authorities have started work on fencing and creating basic infrastructure.
The design prepared by senior architectural and landscape consultant Kishore Pradhan for the project has a series of components proposed in the park that include a garden with rare, endangered and threatened species of flora, agro-parks and trails.
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According to HMDA Director (Urban Forestry), M. Raja Ramana Reddy, plans have been drawn to have an aquatic bird park, public park, aviary and butterfly and sculpture park. In the area identified for the project, there is some rocky terrain which was under quarrying and these pits would be used to develop mountain biking tracks and laying trails.
Rare flora
Few traditional rural huts, picnic area, open air theatre and a solar farm i.e., a farm to be managed by harnessing solar energy, happened to be other components.
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“We will identify the flora that is threatened and endangered and acquire it from different places to create an exclusive garden of them here,” he said.
The design by Mr.Pradhan, who earlier designed Melkote Park at Narayanguda and KBR Park at Jubilee Hills in the city, has divided the site into different zones and incorporated the available features for different components, he said.
As of now, the estimated budget for the project has been put approximately at Rs.60 crore and it might go up a bit by the time of completion, that is next year.
Being planned as an Eco Park, the facility does not have any permanent structures and the infrastructure and amenities would be put in place with eco-friendly material only, Mr. Reddy added.