Green all the way

The land is low-lying and undulating, the former caused by accumulation of rain-water and sewage water from the Morwada nulla. This terrain has been turned to its advantage to give the place a beautiful naturally landscaped look. The higher areas are used as grassy lawns and the extra water is diverted to lower patches. As one enters the arched gateway, one is greeted by a trimmed patch of lawn surrounded by neat hedges. Everything else has been designed to look absolutely as Mother Nature made it.

An enormous, ancient banyan tree with a girth of 110 meters stands to the right. There are many more such shady trees further inside but none as large as this one. Rough stone steps lead up to a circular bower thickly covered with creepers. You can relax on the stone bench kept inside, where you will find the temperature a good 3 or 4 degrees lesser. Beyond this is a little pond. This is the lowest area and channels cut from the higher lands helps all the debris to accumulate. The pond contains water-lilies and Brig. Harish’s addition – half a dozen ducks which swim around merrily, scramble out to receive visitors. “That is because the people who come for walks feed them and the ducks have got used to the idea,” says one of the Havildars who looks after the Park.

Guava, mango and neem trees have been planted on the higher areas, while the lower swampy areas have been covered with special tall grasses and reeds acting as purifying agents. A winding path made of Shahabad stones meanders around the park. Red and yellow cannas and Sweet Williams add a splash of colour. Little rustic bridges over the channels provide a charm of their own. The Plaza is open to the general public from morning till evening and has become a favourite haunt for young and old alike.

For the army, the environment seems to be high on their agenda too. And as Brig. Harish reveals, they are planning to extend this plan to include a patch of land, serving as a refuse dump across the road.