The Tropical Butterfly Conservatory at Melur Road near Srirangam, which has been attracting a large number of tourists, nature lovers, and environmentalists, will soon have an amphitheatre.
The Forest Department has developed the conservatory on 25 acres at an estimate of Rs. 1.61 crore and the Tourism Department had chipped in with various development works at an expenditure of Rs. 3.37 crore, which were executed in 16 packages.
Work on construction of an amphitheatre, sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 48 lakhs under the Tourism development project, is under progress currently. “The seating capacity of the amphitheatre will be 90 and films on wildlife and butterflies will be screened,” N. Satish, District Forest Officer, told The Hindu .
He said the conservatory inside the park would be air-conditioned for conservation of 41 species. “Butterflies need to be maintained and preserved at certain temperature and humidity. A climate controller device is being set up at an expenditure of Rs. 29 lakh for regulating the temperature at the conservatory,” he said
A weather station was being set up at an estimate of Rs. 7 lakh. It would monitor rainfall, temperature, and humidity, sunshine hours in a day, speed, and direction of wind.
About Rs. 30 lakh has been allocated for setting up mini fountain, cascade, water bodies, and solar walkway lighting. A disabled-friendly modern toilet had been sanctioned at an expenditure of Rs. 30 lakh.
Surveillance cameras had been set up at 16 places across the conservatory. “As a large number of visitors have been visiting the conservatory, it is difficult to check anti-social activity. Hence, the surveillance cameras have been set up,” an official source told The Hindu on Saturday.
The pathways is being provided at an expenditure of Rs. 54 lakh. Parking facility is provided on an area of 5,000 square metres with ramp and cross-drain facility at an expenditure of Rs.12 lakh.
