Karwar (ENS): Forest Department officials held a consultation meeting with the public here recently to discuss the further development of Maradi Gudda and Killa Children’s Park.

Addressing the meeting, deputy conservator of forest S Ramesh said since April this year, total 7,516 people visited Maradi Gudda Children’s Park and a sum of Rs 37,580 was collected as entry fee.

He said when district minister RV Deshpande held Tourism portfolio, over Rs 59 lakh was sanctioned for giving a facelift to the park. Steps are being taken to publicize existence of rare variety of trees like Naxatra Vana, Rashi Vana and Ganesh Vana, he added. Jijamata Mahila Sangh of Haliyal has been entrusted with the task of arranging poojas on religious occasions

Administrator, VRDM Trust, Prakash Prabhu said that Honda Motorbike Company had come forward to install a reverse osmosis drinking water plant in the park. There are plans to purchase toys and create a skating rink.

NGO Jai Karnatak will establish a canteen, which will offer vegetarian food at reasonable rates, he added. Speaking about the Killa Children’s park, Ramesh said that a sum of Rs 86,680 was collected as entry fee from as many as 17,366 visitors. Rs 92,000 was released by the government for various development works and they will be taken up soon. The meeting decided to hold entertainment programmes on New Year’s Evening in which local artistes will take part.

Additional Conservator of Forest Santoshkumar Kenchappanavar, Regional Forest Officer S S Todkar, Tehsildar V G Gulguli, and Police Inspector Sundaresh Holennavar were present among others.