Awaiting a makeover

Jamshedpur, May 9: Come winter, you can bask in the mellow sun at Ghurabandha Theme Park with Sambars and Cheetals for company.

If the forest department has its way, the Telco park, which till now boasted a bevy of botanical beauties, will be turned into a deer park with arrangements for safari.

Divisional forest officer, Dhalbhum, A.T. Mishra confirmed the ambitious plan. “There is ample scope to set up deer enclosures at the theme park. We can bring animals like spotted deer, Sambars and Cheetals, which will attract more tourists,” he said.

Forest officials propose to bring the animals from the captive breeding centre at Muta, near Ranchi.

“The Muta centre breeds spotted deer and Cheetals. We will need permission from the chief wildlife warden after the enclosures are set up,” a senior forest official said, adding that they would soon draw up a proposal for the deer safari.

Sprawling over 70 hectares in a Maoist stronghold, the Ghurabandha Theme Park has some 40 tree species, including teak, shisham, gamhar, mahua, gulmohur, neem and bamboo. The forest department has built roads inside the park, which is the favourite haunt of morning walkers. At regular intervals, plantation drives involving schoolchildren are organised, besides the annual Van Mahotsav.

The park was set up a couple of years ago, primarily to prevent encroachment in the area. “Local people were encroaching upon forestland. The problem had reached serious proportions and we decided to protect the green belt,” Mishra said.

“Now, we want to develop the park into a safari zone. Hopefully, our plans will materialise by the end of this year,” said the senior forest official. The proposal for the safari will be mooted soon, he added.

According to forest officials, of late, the theme park is seeing hosts of winged guests as it houses so many species of plants. “The park can even be turned into a bio-diversity zone,” Mishra said.

However, for now, the focus is on deer safari, an artificial stream, a check dam and more vegetation. “We want to make the park a centre for environmental study. School students can visit the park and study its ecology. A boating facility is also being mulled,” the senior forest official said.