Located in a rural area, the Government Higher Secondary School at Kottila here has nearly 3.5 acres of verdant land overlooking the Kuppam river meandering through the mangrove-rich areas fit for being developed into a biodiversity garden.
Fund sanctioned
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has sanctioned ₹10 lakh for developing a biodiversity garden on the 3.5 acre land located on a hillock, which is part of the school land at Kottila in the Ezhome panchayat here.
The garden proposal submitted by the school authorities through the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the panchayat will be implemented by the KSBB with the members of the Biodiversity Club of the school.
In an year
“As part of the project, the lush green land of the school will be developed into a biodiversity garden in one year,” said KSBB member K.V. Govindan. The project also envisages development of a mangrove biodiversity garden at Kuppam backwaters of Ezhome to be completed in the next financial year, he added.
The sanctioned ₹10 lakh would be used for bio-fencing local thorny plants and footpath with laterite stones, signages for plants, setting up of biodiversity garden and butterfly park, nursery and silvicultural operations and eco-friendly mangrove nature study areas and documentation.
KSBB chairman S.C. Joshi had visited the area a few days ago and held discussions with the school authorities. The KSBB officials said the fund would be allotted through the BMC, a statutory body under the KSBB.
