Bio-fencing mooted for Karaikal Hospital

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Forest Department  recently submitted a proposal to the government wherein it has planned to provide a “biodiversity fencing” in place of a concrete compound wall for the upcoming multi-speciality hospital in Karaikal. The construction work for the 600-bed hospital is expected to begin by the next financial year, before which the forest department is preparing to finish the initial phase of the project on the identified land.According to officials, the plan, slated to be carried out at a total cost of `16 lakh, would involve planting of 2000 saplings per hectare around the entire area of the hospital. Calculated length-wise, there would be seven-and-a-half hectares worth of tree cover achieved in 15 months. Officials said that the proposal served two purposes: it would help the Forest Department achieve the targets set by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on minimum tree cover to be achieved annually and it would save the expenses of building a concrete wall by  at least Rs 40 lakh. Also, this was the first time in South India that such a project for a hospital was being initiated.