Dedicating India’s first Oxygen Bird Park to the nation, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, on Saturday, shared another welcome development which will boost industries in Vidarbha. At the inaguration ceremony of the Oxygen Bird Park developed at Clover Leaf no. 04 on Wardha Road at Jamtha, Gadkari informed the gathering, “Mukesh Ambani shared with me his vision to launch 600 projects of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) based on rice straw thoughout India. One of the projects will be at Mauda.” Shyamkumar Barve, MP, Ramtek; Tekchand Sawarkar, MLA, Kamptee; Ashish Jaiswal, MLA, Ramtek; and Vikas Kumbhare also shared the stage with Gadkari. Emphasising importance of the Oxygen Bird Park, Gadkari said, “Ducks and other birds in a pond are adding to the natural beauty of the park.

 

The fruit-bearing trees at the park will attract migratory birds in future.” The Oxygen Bird Park is developed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that comes under the Ministry of Road Transport. The park boasts a wide variety of trees. Tree varieties are selected with broad leafs to synthesise more oxygen. Fruits on the trees will be reserved for birds only. This will attract more birds to the park. Trees like Arjun, Java Plum (Jambhul, Mango, Jujube fruit (Ber), Umbar, Banyan, Peepal, Guava, Tamarind, Custard Apple, Gulmohar, among others are planted in the park. Also, the park offers recreational activities including Food Court, walking paths, jogging, cycling tracks, watchtowers, amphitheater platforms, and children’s play. The Oxygen Bird Park is conceptualised by Gadkari to provide a habitat for the diverse local and migratory bird species found in Central India, while also serving as a recreational space for the citizens. The park developed on eight hectare at a cost of Rs 14.32 crore is situated next to the Outer Ring Road on Wardha Road near Jamtha. A nursery is also being developed as part of the park that will fulfill demands of saplings required by NHAI for its various projects.

 

Gadkari appealed to the citizens to take part in ‘Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam’ initiative. The Union Minister also informed the gathering that the NHAI has planted around 1 lakh saplings under the initiative since September 17. Apart from the other remarkable works done the NHAI including installing Bamboo crash barriers on 80 km stretch of Wani- Warora; using glass fibre replacing steel for construction of flyovers; utilising municipal wastes in road construction; and using excavated material from pond construction for road construction, he added. Anurag Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, made the introductory remarks. Asawari Deshpande was comperer of the ceremony while R P Singh, Regional Officer, NHAI, Nagpur, proposed a vote of thanks.