Noida-MoEF sign MoU for botanical garden

The Noida Authority on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the union Ministry of Environment & Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to develop a botanic garden sprawling across 164 acres of land in Sector 38A.

MoU was signed by Rama Raman, Chairman and CEO of Noida Authority, and Hem Pandey, Additional Secretary, MoEF&CC, at the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi on the World Environment Day. Prakash Javadekar, Environment Minister, Sushil Kumar, Olympic Gold medal winner, and cricketer Virat Kholi were also the part of the ceremony.

According to officials, Noida’s Botanical Garden of Indian Republic (BGIR) is set to be the second largest botanical garden in the country after the one in Kolkata.

Raman said “While the infrastructure will be developed by the Authority, the responsibility for BGIR to serve as a nodal centre for conservation, research and environmental education will be of the ministry. Both organisations will have a 50 per cent stake; BGIR will prove to be a heritage and landmark endeavour not only for Uttar Pradesh, but the entire nation. This initiative will energize Noida’s green space and further enhance the vibrancy and soul of our city.”

According to Raman the botanical garden would be different from any other park as plants here would be grown and displayed for the purpose of research and education. “At the BGIR, plant species like bryophytes, pteridophytes, palms, orchids and medicinal bamboo, which are rare or in the endangered category, will be conserved,” the CEO said.

“Research facilities to provide students of schools and colleges with botanical knowledge will be undertaken here. The BGIR will go a long way in enhancing the greenery of Noida, maintaining the ecological balance and promoting eco-tourism,” Raman said.