There is an old mining pit which serves a good source of water all through the year
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Nellore: Nearly 400 hectares of reserve forest area near city is being developed under City Forest Scheme introduced by Centre. Nellore is one among the 200 cities chosen under the programme.
Forest department, after a thorough study of reserve forests within a distance of 20 km from the city centre has identified the reserve forest located at Kotturu on Nellore-Rapur road, within 8.5 km to city for development by utilising the Central assistance.
The scheme is going to address the dire need of a large area with good vegetation cover to serve as green belt with maximum environmental and ecological benefits for city that is devoid of natural green belts and parks except few municipal parks with an area not more than one acre.
The reserve forest has undulating terrain with good vegetation with dry deciduous shrubs, besides a hillock of about 50 metres height on the northern side and the stretch of hillock in the middle eastern side.
There is an old mining pit which serves a good source of water all through the year. Plain area of about 30 hectare is available with red gravel soil to a depth of 0.7 to 1 metre to raise good sacred groove, arboretum, medicinal plants park, children play pen, bamboo septum and lawns etc.
The sloped terrain at the foot of the hillocks is most suitable for landscaping. Three water bodies are being proposed to increase the water availability throughout the year.
"Natural trail path of 4.25 km can be formed all along the periphery of the AP Forest Development Corporation plantations and the natural forests. An inner walking track of 2.30 km can be developed. The old mine pit can also be modified into lotus/boating pond. As a whole the area is an ideal location meeting the objectives of the concept of city forest and cater to maximum environmental and ecological benefits to the people of Nellore city," the DFO said.
Meanwhile, district collector M. Janaki along with MLC Beeda Ravichandra and mayor Abdul Azeez, laid a foundation stone for city forest on the occasion of 66th Vanamohotsavam programme at the reserve forest. They have also planted saplings along with large number of students. OSD Ch. Penchal Reddy and DEO Anjaneyulu were also present.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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