Ambazari Biodiversity Park losing charm after lockdown

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

Lack of funds affecting maintenance of the mega park

Ambazari Biodiversity Park, the bird’s paradise, is losing its charm day by day due to lack of maintenance and proper care. The then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had dedicated this park to people of Nagpur that opened for visitors last year. In the beginning, the park turned into a famous tourist destination. But, due to coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restricted movement of visitors inside the park from last several months. On the occasion of ‘Bird Week’, The Hitavada got a chance to visit the park for a while where we found a disturbing look of the park due to lack of maintenance. Cycling activity in the park is the main source of revenue generation.

In 2019, despite rainy season, so many people visited the park which is a good sign for the department. Forest Department signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bounce Company to provide 20 cycles for nature trail. Along with this, department has its own cycles. After lockdown, the cycles are now in poor condition. Many obstacle rides, resting benches etc are also broken. Roads are in poor shape and it is very tough to ride cycle on such roads. “We have sent the development plan for maintenance of the park but no fund yet released in this regard due to coronavirus pandemic,” said A S Ninawe, RFO, Ambazari to The Hitavada.

He said, “The park is getting 100-150 footfall everyday and on weekends the number is on higher side. The visitors are getting good facilities inside the park but the maintenance of roads and other equipments require funds which we are waiting for.” Apart from the 15 km cycle track, there 18 nesting stands, 8 bird hides, 2 e-rickshaws, water deck, adventure sports for kids, benches, 10 steel and 7 RCC watch towers in the biodiversity park. Forest Department also introduced about 15 e-scooters which is also not working currently. As per the sources, the MoU with Bounce cycles got over and forest department is going to float new tender for maintenance and handling of it. Ranjan Saxena, a city-based bird-watcher and regular visitor of the park said, “Every activity related to nature has become commercial now.

Cycling cannot help and walking has its own limitations. Last time when I visited there park I did not sight any birds as there was a lot of disturbance from visitors who were listening to music and shouting.” Saxena further said, “The park has potential to become a famous tourist destination in the region but it need some improvement and proper care to attract tourist and also the migrated birds.”

Out of the 1,349 bird species found in the country, approximately 270 species which is 1/5th of the total country avian biodiversity is found in the Ambazari Biodiversity Park. January is the time when bird activity is at its peak and many migratory birds also visit the forest area. Daily schools students, researchers, bird watchers etc. visiting the park daily after lockdown, but they are facing tough time due to poor facilities there.