Courtallam gets Tamil Nadu’s biggest eco-park

 

Photo: Special arrangement A front view of Courtallam Ecopark, near Five Falls. Photo: Special Arrangement

Set up over an extent of 37.23 acres in Tirunelveli district at a cost of Rs.5.73 crore

The State’s biggest eco-park has come up in a picturesque spot at Courtallam, a popular destination of tourists,down South.

Established over an extent of 37.23 acres in Tirunelveli district at a cost of Rs.5.73 crore, the park, adjacent to the famous ‘Five Falls,’ is awaiting a formal inauguration. The farm belonging to the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency (TANHODA) has been converted to accommodate the park.

Some of the attractive features of the park are adventure-play area, sunken garden, fern garden, royal drive, bamboo avenue, rock garden, children play area, murals, butterfly garden, eco pond and stream walk.

The Agency is also setting up two gardens at Yercaud: a botanical garden and Kurinji genetic heritage Garden, besides Paalai genetic heritage garden at Achadipirambu in Ramnathapuram district on an investment of about Rs.24 crore. TANHODA maintains seven parks and gardens in the State and 49 farms are under its control.

The botanical parks and gardens serve as study centres for students and attract large number of tourists, while these farms serve as model demonstration centres to the local growers. An official of TANHODA told The Hindu, “Courtallam eco-park is the biggest park in the State. Civil works are over and it will be thrown open to public very soon. We have completed 60 per cent of work in the upcoming parks in Yercaud and 50 per cent in Paalai Genetic Park. The remaining work will be completed before September and the facilities will be made available to the public before the next flower show in May”.

The garden improvement works at Bryant Park, Anna Park and Chettiar park in Kodaikanal, costing Rs.1.13 crore, have been completed in shortest time, the official adds.