Salumarada Thimmakka Urban Tree Park-Udupi to have Canteen/Better Facilities
Udupi: More facilities will be provided at the Salumarada Thimmakka Urban Tree Park located at Badagabettu village next to the TAPMI campus on the periphery of Udupi. Though the park located on six acres of land was thrown open for the people in February 2018, but it still does not have a canteen functioning in it. Canteen building to start functioning by September. A team under the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Prabhakar, visited the park recently and deliberated on the requirements of the park. It had been decided to float tenders for running the canteen. A building for the canteen had already been constructed.
Speaking to media, Clifford Lobo, Udupi Range Forest Officer said, “We expect the canteen to start operating by the first or second week of September. And since there were a large number of trees in the park, it had been decided to install boards by their sides explaining their botanical names and other details. This would help the people understand more about the trees. To increase footfalls in the park, more boards would be put in Manipal giving directions on the way to reach the park. Though the park had started operating about three months, it had generated a good number of footfalls”.
“In spite of it being monsoon season, about 700 persons visited the park last Sunday. Even though there was monsoon in June and July, the amount collected through tickets was Rs 40,000 per month. The Department of Forests would also hold talks with the district administration and the Department of Public Instruction on allowing school students to visit the park on weekdays with their teachers at a nominal fee. It will help increase the awareness of the students and they can get a feel of the forest at the park. A staff member from our department can be deputed to tell the students about the importance of various trees and animals, also forests and the environment in general. It can be a package for schools,” added Lobo.
The park will be open for public from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The entry for an adult is Rs 10 and Rs 5 for a child.
Source: The Hindu
