The campus of the University of Mysore (UoM), which is nearing its centenary year, is getting a facelift at a cost of `45 lakh. The ‘Campus Green’ project aims to make the university’s 750-acre campus greener and more beautiful.
In the first phase, 15 departments or buildings have been identified for the project, including the departments of physics, chemistry, micro-biology, mathematics, bio-chemistry, humanities block, library building and Gandhi Bhavan. The funds have been sanctioned by the University of Potential for Excellence (UPE).
The work has been handed over to Nurserymen Co-operative Society which has employed more than 25 gardeners for the job. A wide variety of flowers, shrubs and ornamental plants are being planted on the premises of these buildings and good quality red soil is being used for landscaping and flower beds to ensure that the plants grow well.
Locally available rocks are being used to create tiny rock gardens. Golden Cypress, Cypress Benjamin, Bougainvillea, Camellia and different types of button roses are some of the varieties being planted. Apart from this, over 2,000 saplings of different tree species are being planted all over the campus. They include black rosewood (beete), Indian Kino (honne), neem, jack tree, gooseberry and Tabebuia rosea. Ten to 15 per cent of these saplings will be planted in the picturesque Kukkarahalli lake premises located in the midst of the campus.
“We have selected plants that are suitable for the local weather conditions, assistant horticulture officer of the University S K Mujavar said. Swathes around the Manasagangothri Open Air Theatre will be landscaped,” he added.