A spice-cum-herbal garden is coming up opposite Sanjeevaiah Park on the Necklace Road.

The Buddha Purnima Project (BPP) wing of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has initiated the process by floating the tenders.  The tenders would be finalised in about two weeks time and the entire process would be completed by this month-end, BPP Officer on Special Duty P Rajender Reddy told Express.

The spice and medicinal-cum-herbal garden will come up in about 2.25 acres of land at a cost of 1.5 crore.

It will be developed with the support of Spice Board India under the Union ministry of commerce, Andhra Pradesh Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other departments concerned.

Initially the civil works would be taken up first whereas the landscaping, planting and related works will be taken up later.

The facility would be developed in a eco-friendly manner. It would likely be thrown open to the public early next year.

Based on the topography of Hyderabad and surrounding places, spice plants like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, cloves, chilli, cumin curry leaves, turmeric, ginger, garlic, mustard basil, cassia, coriander, saffron and other varieties etc would be planted. Spices park will help render educative services to the visitors. Because of the varying climates – from tropical to sub-tropical to temperate-almost all spices grow splendidly in Hyderabad, he added.

Herbal plants aloe vera, tulsi, chamomile, ashwagandha, sarpagandha, coleus, geranium, rosemary, jatropa and other herbal plants will also be planted etc. He said that there is a global resurgence in traditional and alternative healthcare systems, so having medicinal garden gains importance.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by S Bachan Jeet Singh / ENS – Hyderabad / August 11th, 2013