Thiruvananthapuram: The stretch between Pound Kadavu and Station Kadavu, which is now a dumping spot, is about to be turned into a green lung complete with a 1-km cycle trail and a joggers’ park. The 993 metre narrow strip stretching between the two points, the width of which varies between 23 m and 45 m, will be turned into an arboretum utilising AMRUT fund. A 20-cent piece at Station Kadavu will be developed into a park dedicated to the memory of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and State Mission Management Unit have approved the design prepared by Recycle Bin, a group of urban designers. The tender will be floated soon.
This was a neglected spot along the side of Parvathy Puthanar canal. “Nature as such is in the backyard of social psychology. Many might take the benefits of Nature, but they do little to protect it, even if some of them might have a latent wish to protect it. The project is aimed at pulling Nature out from the backyard of social conscience, and celebrating it,” says Ganga Dileep C, founder, Recycle Bin.
The design was prepared in consultation with Tree Walk coordinator Anitha Sharma, Geography expert D Nandakumar as well as Warblers and Waders C Sushant. The green strip is envisaged as a tree garden with sections dedicated to different categories of trees, like say edible fruit bearing species, climate-resilient species or rain garden. The planting of trees will be turned into a social exercise, getting non-profit organisations and collectives involved.
There will be ‘tree mentors’ to take care of the trees. There will also be a herbal garden and butterfly park. The terrain is sandy, with a few Acacia and Eucalyptus being the only things green here. The ground might have to be enriched with humus. The designers have decided to create a bio-swale, a drainage course which will help water recharge, while the rest runs off into the canal.
