Park for people, birds in Sadashivanagar

Park for people, birds in Sadashivanagar
Sunday July 20 2008 08:53 IST

Express News Service

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BANGALORE: The Sadashivanagar Residents’ Welfare Association (SRWA), in coordination with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Forest cell, has converted 3.5 acres of barren land near Sankey Tank into a ‘birds’ park’ which will be inaugurated on July 20.

Earlier, MLA Narendra Babu with the BBMP, had developed a similar park in Rajajinagar. The park has been developed with funds of around Rs 50 lakh from various sources, including government grants.

Over 36 species of fruit and flower-bearing trees, including Pathodia, sandalwood, Tabubia, Pongamia, bamboo, Kadamba, Royal Palm, Bottlebrush, Jamoon, Singapore Cherry and Cassia, have been planted.

“The saplings were purchased from the Forest Department and BBMP nurseries,” said retired PCCF and association honorary secretary B K Jagadish Chandra.

The park, apart from being used for jogging, walking and cycling, will also serve as a breeding and nesting space. Over 1,000 children and parents are expected to visit the park on weekends.

“The BBMP leased the park to the association in 2001. The lease is renewed once in every three years. Permissions for a children’s park, musical fountain, irrigation, rose garden and to stage cultural programmes were also obtained,” he said.

BBMP Forest Cell Advisor R Sharat Babu said: “Bird shelters have been made from scrapped packaging materials. Bamboo bird colonies have also been made to attract nectar- dependent birds.

Nesting material has been prepared from discarded coconut stems, to help the breeding of 120 odd bird species, including rose-ringed parakeets, barbets and woodpeckers. The park will also serve as the State’s first bamboo nursery park. Seeds of two bamboo species, Hebbidaru and Kir Bidaru, available once in 45 years and once in 12 years respectively, have been brought from Dandeli.

Hebbidaru grows up to 105 ft and Kir Bidaru up to 50 ft. They will act as noise barriers on the park’s periphery. The BBMP has also proposed to erect a bird-watch tower.