Urban Parks Being Spruced Up In Odisha’s Bhubaneswar, Cuttack

Bhubaneswar: Jayadev Vatika in the heart of this Capital city is all set to become a patch of sylvan surrounding amid concrete forests, thanks to an urban forest plan being taken up to revive parks close to the Twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.

Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra who reviewed the progress of greening and plantations in the city on Tuesday at Lokseba Bhawan here directed officials of Odisha Forest Development Corporation, City Forest Division, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)  to work out a joint plan to develop seven urban forest parks in and around the twin cities under Phase I. The parks would provide urbanites facilities for morning walk, recreation, outing, fresh air and refreshment.

The opening of such urban forest parks for the public would infuse a sense of responsibility among the denizens, and, would be a deterrent against destruction and encroachment of the areas. Currently, green islands like Ekamra Kanana and Jayadev Vatika in Bhubaneswar are being managed successfully, stated the Chief Secretary.

Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Mona Sharma outlined the issues for discussion and said the forest parks could be managed on the basis of self-sustaining revenue generating model by OFDC.

It was decided that BMC and CMC would provide infrastructural support like pathways, drinking water, electricity and picnic spots in the urban forest parks and OFDC would maintain them. BMC Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh said the Mo Bus route would be extended to the urban forest locations to help visitors reach the spots. Tickets for entry into the parks could be sold online through the BMC. The spots would be publicised through its website, hoardings and electronic messages, it was revealed.

Ekamra Kanana, Medicinal plant knowledge centre, Smruti Van, Ekamra Van and Jayadev Vatika are among the six dense urban patches which were developed in and around Bhubaneswar. Another upcoming urban forest is Nagar Van which would be a potential spot for Urban Forest Park. Similarly, two urban patches — Nandan Van and Arogya Van — were developed in Cuttack. These spots could be developed to urban forest parks with basic infrastructure, parking slots and amenities.

The meeting explored the possibilities for development of similar urban forests surrounding the twin cities. Regional Chief Conservator of Forests ManojMohapatra presented various plantation sites at Begachhia, Kishannagar, Odapada, Arilo, Brjabiharipur, Kampur, BhusauniPitha, Badagaon, Atoda, Mahanadi and Kathjodi embankment, CDA Sector 8, Nakshyatravana, Karadakanta, Madhupur, Baliapada, Jagatpur Atoda, Orilo and Uttampur. OFDC managing director Rajiv Kumar said plantations were done in these areas under Urban tea plantation, Odisha Environmental Fund Management, Green Mahanadi Mission and Increasing Green Cover witnessed lofty growth with high density.

Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development G Mathivathnan, Principal Secretary Revenue and Forest Management Bishnipada Sethi, Principal Secretary, General Administration and Public Grievance Surendra Kumar, BMC Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Singh, PCCF Harishankar Upadhaya, Water Resources Special Secretary Archana Pattanaik, Cuttack Collector Bhawani Shankar Chayani and CMC Commissioner Ananya Dash were present among others.