KOLKATA: Spread over 192 acres, including a 73-acre water body, Rabindra Sarobar is set to get new green zones, like a medicinal garden, nature observatory zone and fungus garden. Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), the custodian of Rabindra Sarobar, will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the state horticulture department for better management, supervision and nurturing of the new green zones that will have different species of trees.
A committee with horticulture and forest department experts has been appointed by KMDA to conduct surveys to come up with recommendations as to how green zones with specific species of trees could be developed to make Rabindra Sarobar more attractive to students and nature lovers. The idea is to make it an eco-tourism destination on the lines of Eco Park or Botanical Garden, keeping intact its natural ecosystem, officials said.
“The plan is to divide the premises into different green zones. For example, there can be a ‘Triphala’ zone where amlaki, haritaki and boira saplings will be planted; there can be ‘Pancha Pallab’ and ‘Pancha Bati’ zones that will have trees falling in those categories. The scientific names of the trees will also be put up. There will also be a garden with trees that have medicinal benefits,” said a KMDA official.
There is also a plan to have a nature observatory zone with different animal species and a butterfly garden. The expert committee is coming up with their recommendations, the official said.
“The MoU with the horticulture department will be signed for better supervision of the different green zones as KMDA is basically an engineering wing. Horticulture experts will be able to properly supervise and nurture the trees of different species. Soil testing will be done to further check what kind of saplings can be planted in certain areas,” an official said.
At present, there are around 7,000 trees belonging to 70-75 different species in Rabindra Sarobar. Several trees were uprooted during Amphan last year, but many of them were replanted.
