UEP - ’Urban Eco Park’ at Pilikula

UEP - ’Urban Eco Park’ at Pilikula

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 31, 2015: Pilikula Nisargadhama, now a popular  tourist destination in Dakshina Kannada district, is all set to open an ’Urban Eco Park’  (UEP), in association with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Pilikula UEP monitoring committee headed by R M N Sahai, former chairman of Karnataka Biodiversity Board, will take up the work of setting up the UEP.  Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama Governing Council has reserved 10 acres of land in Pilikula, about 12 km from the city, to set up the UEP.

The main objective of the UEP is to promote activities related to environment, including waste management, develop medicinal plant garden, create a knowledge hub for ecology and also provide a platform for mega industries to set up demonstration areas. KSPCB has earmarked Rs 5 crore for the setting up of UEP.

Pilikula Nisargadhama executive director S A Prabhakar Sharma told TOI that a detailed project report and the process of tender will be finalized within a couple of weeks.  "Pilikula Nisargadhama will provide the space and the necessary infrastructure to develop the park. Mega industries in and around Mangaluru will be given plots in the park to set up their own technology transfer centres.

Representatives of New Mangalore Port Trust, KIOCL, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited and many other companies have agreed to take part in the UEP project.  Industries will demonstrate the kind of pollutants produced and various methods of treatment through UEP, which will also have beautiful landscape to attract tourists. The demonstration plots will enable students and industries to experiment with treated effluents. Similarly, there will be knowledge centres to create awareness on management of domestic waste,  a preliminary discussion was held at a meeting convened by Key head Sahai. 

DK DC  and Pilikula Nisargadhama governing council chairman Adoor B Ibrahim, MLA J R Lobo and MLC Ivan D’Souza will be part of the monitoring committee. This project will enhance the utility of the Nature park here.