Forest department submits Okhla Bird Sanctuary revamp project plan

NOIDA: The

district forest department

of Noida on Wednesday submitted a complete

revamp plan

of the

Okhla Bird Sanctuary

to the

Noida Authority

. Based on a detailed project drawn up the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, the proposed project cost is tagged at Rs 23 crore.

According to the District Forest Officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, HV Girish, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is now all set for a complete overhaul in its management and facilities. The proposal submitted today includes a detailed plan for promotion of conservation and eco-tourism in its vicinity.

"Presently there are two gates to access the sanctuary. Now there will be a third gate built near Sector 95 for people to be able to access it. Parking facilities will be created. Thematic gates will be created. The gates will have high security with armed guards. Within the park, an administrative block office will be built which will have an amphitheater for the promotion of eco-tourism. A cc-tv control room will be set up for security monitoring as well as to monitor bird movement," Girish informed. "Souvenir shops of bird-related merchandise and literature will be set up. There will also be a library, adequate binocular supply, jute-bags and a canteen," he said.

The Noida Authority was directed to disburse the project cost of this revamp and overhaul of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in compliance of a Supreme Court of India order dated December 3, in a case filed by environmentalist, Anand Arya. Arya had filed a case against the denudation and environmental distress caused to the ecology of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary because of the construction of the Noida Park or the

Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal

adjacent to the sanctuary. The case (No: 2609-26010) was filed by Arya in the Supreme Court in 2009 and the order was disbursed in 2010.

As per the order, the Noida Authority was directed to provide the district forest office of Gautam Budh Nagar, 5% of the amount spent on constructing the Dalit Park, for the purpose of preservation of its ecology and increasing its amenities.

The department informed that the project will have WWF as knowledge partner and Samsung as an IT partner. Samsung is coming on board via its CSR initiatives. The project is expected to be implemented on ground in a few months from now and once commenced, will take an estimated period of three years for completion.