Biodiversity Park cum Oxygen Park to come up at Osmania University soon

Osmania University (OU) campus will be soon home to Biodiversity Park cum Oxygen Park with the varsity officials drawing plans accordingly.

The park is being planned to spread over 200 acres in the interior parts of the campus near the IPE building. As part of the project, various native plant species will be planted and the park will be scientifically managed by a team of professors from the university.

The sprawling university campus is home to several species of various flora and fauna. In fact, one could find several plants that boast of medicinal value as well. However, over the period of time due to ecological changes coupled with human interventions, the biodiversity of the campus took a beating.

With the proposed Biodiversity Park, the university officials are planning to restore the ecological system in the campus by scientifically managing the wilderness on the campus.

According to sources, the proposed park will be categorised into different zones which include the oxygen park and people on the user charges will be allowed to access the oxygen park. “A detailed project report for setting up biodiversity park has been readied,” sources



said.

During the last three years, the university administration in collaboration with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) had taken extensive green campaign and had planted close to 10 lakh saplings as part of Haritha Haram. Along the roadside, flowering plants and trees like Gulmohar were planted in abundance. 

Similarly, saplings of some fruit-bearing plants like guava, pomegranate and jamun were also planted on the campus. These plantation efforts over the years have yielded positive results and helped increase the green cover in the campus considerably.

As part of the Haritha Haram programme, a huge plantation drive was taken up in close to 400 acres of land on the campus, said OU Vice-Chancellor Prof D Ravinder. “There is a plan for a biodiversity and oxygen park on the campus. The oxygen park will have walking tracks for daily walkers and people will be allowed on user charges Rs 200 which has already been announced,” he said.

The move to levy charges is to provide facilities like bio-toilets and seating arrangements to users besides restricting mischief mongers, Prof D Ravinder added.