Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 25: Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines (IIIM) has framed a plan to restore and revive the fish pond spread over an area of 11.17 acres near RRL Laboratory, Canal Road and develop a Biodiversity Botanical Park in the area surrounding the water body.
The proposed biodiversity park project estimated to cost Rs. 13.5 crore would have rare species of medicinal and herbal plants.
This was disclosed in a joint meeting of officers of IIIM, UEED and Jammu Municipal Corporation, chaired by Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora here today.
MLA Jammu West Chaman Lal Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pardeep Gupta, Commissioner JMC Jammu K. L. Khajuria, I/C Director, IIIM, Jammu Dr. Surinder Koul, Head Engineering, IIIM, Jammu Mr. D. K. Sultan, Executive Engineer, IIIM, Jammu G. P. Singh, Executive Engineer, UEED, SE, JMC Works and other senior officers of concerned department attended the meeting.
Representatives of IIIM disclosed that the RRL was looking forward to develop and restore the pond near the complex which has turned into a sewer due to inflow of nallah/drain from Bakshi Nagar, Gurah and adjoining areas.
IIIM informed that three open nallahs/drains coming all the way from Rehari via Gurha Bakshi Nagar pass through the residential area of RRL (IIIM), and RRL School.
The Minister said that UEED Department has formulated a project report for diversion of nallah to main treatment plant Bhagwati Nagar at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 lakh.
The Minister directed the JMC and UEED departments to work on war footing to complete the diversion work of the Nallah before the rainy season. He said the diversion of nallah would also pave the way for taking up the work on the proposed botanical garden, park and restoration of the pond.
Mr Jora also urged MLA Jammu West to contribute towards the project out of his Constituency Development Fund.
He said that the proposed park would further add to the beauty of Jammu city with the development of another green area. He said diversion of nallah and development of green area would also help to plug the flow of polluted water into the the Ranbir Canal.
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