Mega Biodiversity Park in piteous state

The Mega Biodiversity Park, which is the first of its kind in North Karnataka raised by forest department besides Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi, is now in a pathetic state due to the dearth of funds.

The Biodiversity Park had more than seventy thousand saplings spread in 320 acres of land near Machche village on Chorla Ghat road. Out of the total land, 60 acres was developed by intensive gardening. The Biodiversity Park was developed under ‘Nagara Vana Udyan’ project by Government of India. As many as 80 per cent expenses of the project were shared by the Central Government and the remaining twenty per cent by the State Government.

According to sources, Rs two crore was sanctioned by the Central Government for the same. But the remaining 20 per cent, which was to be contributed by the State government has remained neglected.

The park has saplings of over 350 species like Kadagala Murga, Chandana, Pennerale etc. There was a plan for Children’s Play area, jogging path, cycle path, food court, drinking water facility, permanent sitting arrangement, rest rooms, Yoga center, Meditation center, butterfly park, Topiary garden, nature interpretation center and more. But, due to a dearth of funds, food court, drinking water facility, rest rooms and more have remained just on the drawing papers.