New Cubbon Park like Tree-park planned in Yelahanka

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Honouring the work of Saalumarada Thimmakka’s movement in growing trees, State Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre said a new tree park will be built in her name near Yelahanka on Monday. Still active at age 113, Thimmakka is renowned for planting and tending to over 350 banyan trees over a 45 kilometre highway stretch between Hulikal and Kadur. She has also been involved in planting over 8000 trees. The “Saalumarada Thimmakka” Tree Park will cover 153 acres of space, and will be modelled similarly to Cubbon Park in the city. This park will be located at Madappanahalli, closer to the Yelahanka Road Transport Office (RTO).

"The 153-acre forest land will be developed with the aid of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund. Bengaluru has grown far and wide around Yelahanka. So if we build the Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park here to benefit people, this will be a top level attraction", he said. Citing a recent Indian Forest Survey report, Khandre said that Bengaluru, the third largest city in India, had about 89 sq. km of forest which amounted to 6.81% tree cover. However, around 5 sq. km of tree cover was lost in the last ten years, he said. In another announcement by Khandre, the Hesaraghatta Grassland in North Bengaluru will now be termed as the “Greater Hesaraghatta Conservation Reserve.” This announcement comes after prolonged demands of making the area a protected one.