Kerala to make 2015 National Games Village eco-friendly

Thiruvanathapuram: The Jawarharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), as part of its developmental plans, will spend Rs 50 lakh to turn the 2015 National Games Village eco-friendly.

The Games are scheduled to be held in seven districts of Kerala from Jan 31 to Feb 14. The 50,000 sq. ft lawn area and the boundary walls of the Games Village will be decorated with carpet grass. Five thousand potted plants will be on display and the village will also have eco-friendly sculptures.

Built on the outskirts of the capital city, the Games Village will cost Rs 50 crore. It will provide three-star accommodation and will have the capacity to house 5,000 people.

JNTBGRI plans to prevent water loss from the top half of the soil before beginning landscaping of the area. It also aims to make the land fertile.

The landscaping would be based on a theme, showcasing the spirit of traditional games, culture, natural resources. It will also display the spirit of sports besides other themes.

As part of the 'green' project, different types of gardens would be laid -- like the traditional games of Kerala garden, cultural arts garden, natural habitat garden and boat race prototype garden, bamboo garden and driftwood garden.

The athletes will be allowed to undertake a tour of the gardens.