CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, July 4: The conversion of the 540-acre Biodiversity Park into an ecotourism site of international standards, which is supposed to be developed by the state’s Forest, Environment and Wildlife Department on the outskirts of the state capital at the Lalkhatanga, is yet to begin.
The then Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) for Ranchi published an expression of interest (EoI) in October 2021, seeking consulting companies nationwide to draft plans for the park. However, the current DFO has said that a consulting firm is yet to be hired.
Srikant Verma, the present DFO Ranchi said that the necessary paperwork related to the ecotourism site will most probably be completed in August this year and the work will begin thereafter.
He also informed that if everything goes as per the schedule then the park will start functioning from March –April 2023.
According to earlier information provided by forest officials, the decision to promote the park as an ecotourism site came about as a result of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s visit to Lalkhatanga in early 2021. According to a senior department official, “the CM urged the department authorities to consider developing the park and its surrounding areas as an ecotourism site featuring adventure sports and tourism” after touring the park.
Several native and therapeutic plant species may be found in the park, which has been around for more than ten years. The park, which is mostly cared for by the department for educational purposes, is a well-liked escape spot for both locals and tourists.
