The Hindu : Karnataka News : Bangalore University celebrates Planet Earth

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Bangalore University celebrates Planet Earth

Staff Reporter

300-acre Biodiversity Park rechristened Bangalore Bio-Park
Paths named after persons responsible for creation of the park

BANGALORE: The sprawling 300-acre Biodiversity Park of Bangalore University on its Jnana Bharathi campus was on Wednesday rechristened Bangalore Bio-Park on the occasion of International Year of Planet Earth.

Principal Secretary to the Government (Higher Education) Kaushik Mukherjee, who renamed the park, took a walk along the paths of the park, which were named after persons responsible for creation of the park, namely, H. Narasimhaiah, M.H. Mari Gowda, N.R. Shetty, Siddappa and M.S. Thimmappa (all former Vice-Chancellors), S.K. Ramachandra Rao and Ramaiah Reddy. Former Chief Justice of India M.N. Venkatachalaiah, environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy, Vice Chancellor H.A. Ranganath and Registrar Sanjay Vir Singh walked through the entire Park.

Later, Mr. Venkatachalaiah released a draft manual and launched the Planet Earth programme at a function on the university campus. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Venkatachalaiah stressed the importance of ecology in human life. Mr. Yellappa Reddy said Bangalore Bio Park was next only to Lalbagh and Cubbon Park in comprising diversified plant species.

Work on the Biodiversity Park began in the year 2000 when Dr. Siddappa was Vice-Chancellor. Over 300 varieties of saplings of banyan, jackfruit, Bilva, Matti, pipal (Arali), Sandalwood, Teakwood, Wood-apple (Bela), Banni, Bamboo and many other indigenous species, planted eight years ago, have grown big.

The park, situated next to University Guest House, is full of life due to the hard and tireless work of the volunteers of the National Service Scheme.

Prof. Ranganath said the university has attempted to conserve rainwater by constructing five check-dams within the campus. Nearly 150 varieties of butterflies have been identified on the campus, including the Bio Park.

Many insects and microbial fauna were being noticed in addition to birds, reptiles and mammals in the park. Within the Bio Park, Smriti Vanas (commemorative gardens), Charaka, Sushruta and Saneejivini Vanas (medicinal gardens), Madhu Vana (honey garden), Bonsai Garden, Panchavati and Ksheera Vana (Ficus garden) have been developed, he said.

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