Botanical Garden hopes for upgrade, better security

The Botanical Garden of Indian Republic (BGIR) in Sector 38A, may witness development and better facilities ahead. The Noida authority and BGIR officials have decided to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to make way for its development.

The Botanical Garden of Indian Republic (BGIR) in Sector 38A, may witness development and better facilities ahead. The Noida authority and BGIR officials have decided to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) to make way for its development.

Botanical Garden in Noida's sector 38A. (HT File Photo)

The development projects will involve construction of recreational space for visitors, including families, a laboratory for plant conservation, awareness centre, office building, landscaping and designing of other blocks located in the garden’s campus. The BGIR management specially wants to beef up security in the 167-acre garden.

According to the management, two theft cases were reported in the past two weeks. Following this, garden authorities have written to the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) and the Noida authority seeking better security.

“We will write to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to beef up security in and around the garden. We will work on development projects too,” said Pramod Kumar Agarwal, additional chief executive officer (ACEO) of the authority.

At present, there are 30 security guards (some of them armed) at the garden. “We had demanded 12 more guards last year after computers and other valuable goods were stolen. We need them right away,” said Dr Shiv Kumar, chief scientist-in-charge of the garden.

Meanwhile, the DPR will be prepared by a committee consisting of members from the Noida authority, the BGIR, and the MoEF. The MoEF had on June 6 signed an agreement with the authority for the garden’s development.