Biodiversity park to come up in Ward No. 2

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 14

A biodiversity park is set to come up in Ward Number 2 near Joganand bridge at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.

It is the pet project of Finance Minister Manpreet Badal. He has assured funding for the project and it would come up on the Forest Department land.

In the first phase, rain-shelter, gazebo, footpath and parking would come up. This work would be taken up by the Public Works Department (PWD).

While the work of plantation, landscaping, nature trail, birds and mammal species would be taken up by the Forest Department.

In the second phase of the project, the department will focus on offering value-based facilities and attractions to the visitors.

The department would set up swings for children and would make walking trails inside the park, thereby making it easy for the visitors to negotiate their way through the forest and explore the various facets of it.

It is learnt that different zones would be built inside the park. A butterfly zone would come up in which only those plants would be planted on which butterflies fly around and perch. An open gym would also be set up.

As per the plan, an orchid zone would also come up in which creepers would be planted.

With a total periphery of 3 km, the park would house many new species birds and mammals.

The department would also have decorative and exotic plants inside the park, apart from several indigenous varieties of plants which are not commonly found in the Malwa region.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said, “The biodiversity park would be set up in Ward Number 2 in the city where nature lovers can visit and enjoy.

It will also have special features for kids as well.”

Incidentally, the authorities have failed to maintain the existing biodiversity park in the city. 

The biodiversity park near Tank No 4 on the premises of Joggers’ Park is in a deplorable condition and crying for the attention of the civic body authorities.

It was the brain child of the then ADC, Shenna Aggarwal. The civic body and Forest Department had set up the park in an empty space at Joggers’ Park a few months ago.

The then DFO, Harbhajan Singh, had planted hundreds of medicinal, ornamental, fruit and timber plant saplings while assuring that they would upkeep these for a year. 

Later, the responsibly of the upkeep was handed over to the MC. However, the project seems to have hit a roadblock after the transfer of these officials. Now, weeds have grown in the biodiversity park.

If this biodiversity park comes up then the city would become a tourist attraction for nature lovers. 

Work of plantation, landscaping

• In the first phase, rain-shelter, gazebo, footpath and parking would come up. This work would be taken up by the Public Works Department (PWD). 
• While the work of plantation, landscaping, nature trail, birds and mammal species would be taken up by the Forest Department.
• In the second phase of the project, the department will focus on offering value-based facilities and attractions to the visitors

.