Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan has announced a biodiversity park for Sirumalai. The project will come up at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore and will be completed in three years. The first phase of the project will commence in 2019-2020 at a cost of ₹2.43 crore.
Sirumalai near Dindigul has a mix of dry-deciduous forest in the mid hill ranges and evergreen forests in high ranges. With increasing population and farming of a variety of hill crops, fruits and vegetables, the need to protect the native flora of Sirumalai has increased. A recent survey concluded that Sirumalai is home to 536 species of trees and 895 kinds of herbs. The biodiversity park apart from improving tourism prospects of Sirumalai will be a boon to rare varieties of trees, plants and shrubs endemic to the region.
“The Horticulture Department has a 600 acre research centre atop Sirumalai. Now, the biodiversity park is a welcome move. However, the government should make sure that road and water facilities are improved to cater to tourists who may visit the park during seasons,” said T. Nedunchezhiyan, forest rights committee chairman.
