JOIN USRainwater harvesting centre to come up at Nisarga Dhama
With the demand for water on rise and rainwater harvesting gaining momentum, the authorities at Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisarga Dhama have decided to educate people on conservation of water.
For this, a rainwater harvesting centre would be built on one acre of land, a first of its kind in the state.
Pilikula Biological Park
Director H Jayaprakash Bh-andary said the governing council of the park has approved the proposal in its recent meeting.
Bhandary said the project, still at a nascent stage, includes building models of rooftop rainwater harvesting method, artificial ponds to store rainwater among other methods, that would help in educating the children on the significance of water. In addition to this, four to five borewells that have gone dry would be rejuvenated, besides utilising the existing buildings in tapping rain water. Barring a similar centre in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, no other state has the facility, he added.
Bhandary exuded confidence that the proposed centre would play a key role following the success of creating an artificial lake beside leisure park in the past. Earlier, it was a small pit with water. It was developed into a lake. Expertise of water conservation expert Shree Padre would also be utilised, he added.
The Forest Department has proposed to develop an eco-urban park at an estimated cost of Rs 18 crore, he stated.
Govt grants sought
Besides, the governing council of the park has also decided to seek grants from the government for annual maintenance of the park.
This follows a suggestion by MLC Ivan D’Souza, chief whip of the Legislative Council.
Annually, the park generates a revenue of Rs 1.5 crore from ticket sales as against
Rs 1 crore maintenance cost. It includes animal feed, salary to employees among other expenditure. However, it has become difficult to take up more development works like constructing shelters and animal enclosures. So, it has been decided to seek funds from the government, he added.