Hyderabad: Bandlaguda Jagir to get a Miyawaki forest soon

Hyderabad: The newly formed Bandlaguda Jagir Municipality is planning to adopt Miyawaki method of developing urban greenery, on the banks of Musi River close to Kismatpur Bridge.

"Initially it is being developed on an area of 21 guntas in Sy.No.60, close to Kismatput Bridge. Later, it is proposed to extend it to further 3 to 4 acres of area at same location. Besides Miyawaki method of plant raising we are also taking up general plantation to promote an essence of natural foresting," informed G Venugopal Reddy, Commissioner, Bandlaguda Jagir Municipality.

"The present space of 21 guntas is not enough to promote Miyawaki method of gardening, a Japanese way of raising trees. However, we have taken up works on a pilot basis and soon will extended the area for which we have already got a not from the higher ups," he added.

Miyawaki method is named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. It is a unique technique to grow forests. This way, a variety of native species can be grown in same area, close to each other which ensures the plants receive sunlight only from the top and grow upwards than sideways.

According to an action plan, several species were recommended for Miyawaki plantation. A canopy would be developed using trees such as Azadiracta Indica, Tamarindus Indica, Sizizium Cuminil, Terminalia Arjuna, Tectona Grandis, Ficus Religiosa, Ficus Bengalensis, Holoptelia Integrifolia, Terminalia Catappa, Madhuca Indica and Sterculia Foctida. These species are tall-growing trees.

Similarly, other species like Emblica Officinalis, Pongamia Glabra, Calophyllum Inophyllum, Butea Monosoerma, Dalbergia Latifolia, Ficus Glomerata, Pterocarpus Santalinus, Mangifera Indica, Arthocarpus Integrifolia and Bauhinia etc., would also be used to develop medium range canopy as these trees grows to medium height.

The less growing trees like Aegle Marmelos, Santalum Album, Annana Squmosa, Nictanthes Arbor, Bamboo, Punica Granatum, Manikara Zapota, Psidium Gua, Papaya, Moringa Oleofera, Murraya Koengil and Citrus Aurantifolia can form another interior layer.

"We have completed the demarcation of area and leveling of earth using JCB machine is in process. As per the plan the plantation process should be completed in 22 days after grounding the works," informed the Commissioner.