Calcutta, Dec. 27 :    Calcutta, Dec. 27:  The public-private partnership is now venturing up the garden path. A part of Banabitan, the forest department-run greens in Salt Lake's 'central park', is being handed over to a private firm to develop an 'educational theme centre'. M.K. Nandy, principal chief conservator of forests, said on Thursday: 'We are looking at developing an environmentally interesting and educational theme park, the first of its kind in the city.' At present, the forest department charges Rs 5 per person for entry to Banabitan. According to sources, the park has become 'a den of vice' and there have been several complaints from Salt Lake residents. 'Once we have the theme park in place, these activities will, hopefully, be controlled,' Nandy added. About 20 acres of the 50-acre Banabitan will be handed over for the new theme park, on temporary lease. The forest department will retain the rest of Banabitan and run it like it does now. 'There are regular users of the park, who might object to the entire area being handed over to the developers,' explained Nandy. A city-based export firm, LGW Industries, has approached the forest department with a project proposal for the park. The government, apparently, refused LWG permission to turn section of the park into an amusement centre. 'There are other amusement parks in the city. We want to build up a purely educational facility at Banabitan,' a forest department official said. A spokesperson for LWG said they were tying up with the Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Education. 'We intend to invest around Rs 8 crore on a build-operate transfer (BOT) system. The centre will draw up the details of the facilities that will be provided in the park,' the spokesperson added. The forest department has already got the privatisation proposal cleared from the urban development department and Bidhannagar municipality. 'We will soon hold a meeting with the developers, prior to drawing up a memorandum of understanding,' said a senior forest department official. The theme park is sure to provide nature trails, displays of flora and butterflies. With an eye on the wetlands, the new-look park will also touch upon aspects like waterfowl and their habitat. 'The nature trail will take visitors on short but informative walks. We are looking at state-of-the-art displays and interactive systems that will enable children to learn more about their environment and the flora and the fauna around them,' the LWG spokesperson explained.