Forest gardens set to bloom on city’s hills
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PUNE: Well-defined natural and green open spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the city awaits Puneites.
The forest department, under the Union government's Urban Green programme, is turning the city's forest patches such as Warje, Panchgaon Parvati, Taljai and Bhamburda into 'forest gardens' or 'van udyan' meant solely for citizens.
In the first phase, Pune's forest department has already begun developing the forest area in Warje into a garden, planning to plant 4,000 trees before monsoon's advent over Pune. Five lakes will be developed along with creating numerous patches for citizens, such as jogging tracks, a frangipani flower garden, herb garden, rock garden, 'Bodhi van', Ganesh van, fruit garden, among others.
Forest area in Pune as well as Pimpri Chinchwad corporation limits under the forest department--admeasuring close to 2,337 hectare-- will gradually be turned into forest gardens, said Jeet Singh, chief conservator of forests, Pune on Thursday while addressing a news conference in the city.
Various forest areas in the city include those in Hadapsar, Ghorpadi, Wanowrie, Vadgaonsheri, Katraj, Kondhwa, Mohammadwadi, Warje among others. Close to 20 such areas in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad will be developed as gardens. In the first phase of the exercise, the forest areas in Warje, Bhamburda, Panchgaon Parvati and Taljai will be taken up to be developed as forest gardens.
"The forest department already has a layout map prepared on how they would be developing the forest garden in the Warje forest area. A part of the area will be developed as a 'Smriti Van' or memorial forest where people will be encouraged to plant a tree in memory of a loved one. The five major lakes here will be developed by deepening and storing water in them. Benches will be installed for people and the forest will be enclosed by a concrete wall, one part of which will be draped with drooping climbers," added Singh.
Singh said that the cost of the entire garden may come to Rs 2 crore, once it is completed next year, he added.
One part of the garden will be developed as frangipani garden or 'Champak van', where different types of frangipani trees bearing flowers of different colours will be planted. "Trees that are connected to the Buddhist tradition will be planted in the portion called the 'Bodh van' here. In addition, another portion that already has a small Ganesh temple here will have trees connected to worship of Lord Ganesh. This section will be known as 'Ganesh van'," added Singh.
A rock garden will also be developed here, replete with trees that grow over a rocky surface. The plain area on top of the Warje 'tekdi' will also have a herb garden, where plants and trees with medicinal value will come up.
"This particular patch will be useful for ayurveda doctors who are interested in studying medicinal plants. A 'ranmeva van' is also proposed here, where fruit plants of different species will come up. School children can explore this patch to know more about the wealth of nature that their elders and ancestors had access to in the past when they were young," said Singh.
A 'pit van', 'tamra van' and 'neel van' would also be developed here where yellow, red and blue flower trees will be planted, so that they grow up to be a picturesque canopy of yellow, red and blue in future. "Three types of jogging tracks will also come up here for walkers and joggers, apart from a small 'kids' area' for children to play in," said Singh.
Singh said senior citizens or other citizens' groups can adopt a portion or more in the forest area to tend to. The forest department is currently building the garden with the help from the state government and private companies' funds.
The forest department, under the Union government's Urban Green programme, is turning the city's forest patches such as Warje, Panchgaon Parvati, Taljai and Bhamburda into 'forest gardens' or 'van udyan' meant solely for citizens.
In the first phase, Pune's forest department has already begun developing the forest area in Warje into a garden, planning to plant 4,000 trees before monsoon's advent over Pune. Five lakes will be developed along with creating numerous patches for citizens, such as jogging tracks, a frangipani flower garden, herb garden, rock garden, 'Bodhi van', Ganesh van, fruit garden, among others.
Forest area in Pune as well as Pimpri Chinchwad corporation limits under the forest department--admeasuring close to 2,337 hectare-- will gradually be turned into forest gardens, said Jeet Singh, chief conservator of forests, Pune on Thursday while addressing a news conference in the city.
Various forest areas in the city include those in Hadapsar, Ghorpadi, Wanowrie, Vadgaonsheri, Katraj, Kondhwa, Mohammadwadi, Warje among others. Close to 20 such areas in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad will be developed as gardens. In the first phase of the exercise, the forest areas in Warje, Bhamburda, Panchgaon Parvati and Taljai will be taken up to be developed as forest gardens.
"The forest department already has a layout map prepared on how they would be developing the forest garden in the Warje forest area. A part of the area will be developed as a 'Smriti Van' or memorial forest where people will be encouraged to plant a tree in memory of a loved one. The five major lakes here will be developed by deepening and storing water in them. Benches will be installed for people and the forest will be enclosed by a concrete wall, one part of which will be draped with drooping climbers," added Singh.
Singh said that the cost of the entire garden may come to Rs 2 crore, once it is completed next year, he added.
One part of the garden will be developed as frangipani garden or 'Champak van', where different types of frangipani trees bearing flowers of different colours will be planted. "Trees that are connected to the Buddhist tradition will be planted in the portion called the 'Bodh van' here. In addition, another portion that already has a small Ganesh temple here will have trees connected to worship of Lord Ganesh. This section will be known as 'Ganesh van'," added Singh.
A rock garden will also be developed here, replete with trees that grow over a rocky surface. The plain area on top of the Warje 'tekdi' will also have a herb garden, where plants and trees with medicinal value will come up.
"This particular patch will be useful for ayurveda doctors who are interested in studying medicinal plants. A 'ranmeva van' is also proposed here, where fruit plants of different species will come up. School children can explore this patch to know more about the wealth of nature that their elders and ancestors had access to in the past when they were young," said Singh.
A 'pit van', 'tamra van' and 'neel van' would also be developed here where yellow, red and blue flower trees will be planted, so that they grow up to be a picturesque canopy of yellow, red and blue in future. "Three types of jogging tracks will also come up here for walkers and joggers, apart from a small 'kids' area' for children to play in," said Singh.
Singh said senior citizens or other citizens' groups can adopt a portion or more in the forest area to tend to. The forest department is currently building the garden with the help from the state government and private companies' funds.
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