Dibrugarh, July 27: The Dibrugarh district administration is planning to rejuvenate the Jokai Botanical Garden using funds from the North Eastern Council (NEC).

The NEC recently sanctioned Rs 71.41 lakh to revive the botanical garden, which is situated in Jokai reserve forest, around 15km from here.

A meeting held by the district administration at the garden today saw locals and environmentalists discuss a plan for its rejuvenation.

Lahowal MLA Rituparna Baruah said the botanical garden, set up in 2001, has been lying neglected for many years.

He said the reserve forest and garden has tourism potential because of its rich diversity.

"The main aim of the BJP-led state government is to the revive the botanical garden and generate job opportunities for local youths,'' he said.

Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Laya Madduri told The Telegraph this evening that they had been thinking of reviving the botanical garden but did not have the funds to do so until the NEC sanctioned it. "We will use the funds to construct boundary walls and beautify the botanical garden-cum-germplasm centre. We are planning to involve locals in order to create jobs,'' she said.

She said they are planning an eco-tourism project at Jokai with community participation. "We have discussed the projects and appealed to locals to help us. If we can revive the Jokai Botanical Garden, it can be turned into a tourist site,'' she said.

The deputy commissioner said they will organise seminars and workshops and train local youths on preservation of the reserve forest.

The Jokai reserve forest, spread over 11,000 square metres, is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including different butterflies, snakes and birds.

There are around 17 reptile species in the reserve forest, which does not have enough guards.

There is a nursery in the botanical garden with several plant species but it has been lying in a dilapidated state.