more-in A butterfly garden will soon come up at Subash Bose Park. A nature interpretation centre will also be set up there to share valuable scientific information with the public. These are some of the pilot projects being planned in the city as part of INTERACT-Bio, the integrated sub-national action for biodiversity programme proposed in the city. The programme aims at supporting cities for the implementation of national biodiversity strategy and action plan. The restoration of Thevera canal, wells in Palluruthy Janatha Junction area and Manappattiparambu, and urban farming at Manappattiparambu are part of the project. A detailed study on the influence of mangroves on ecosystem will also be undertaken. Urban farming Under the urban farming programme, farming techniques that could be adopted for small urban holdings will be taken up. The holding owned by the local body at Manappattiparambu will be used for the purpose. Also, farming methods employing recycled water and ground water would be supported and promoted, said Mayor Soumini Jain. Well restoration The well restoration programme aims at converting the existing wells in West Kochi area which is reeling under severe water shortage. There are a few old wells in Edakochi which are usable if maintained. Water from these wells could be used for drinking and non-drinking purposes. The wells will be cleaned up and maintained. Motors will also be installed for drawing up water from the wells, she said. Decisions on the projects were announced at a project steering committee meeting held at New Delhi on Wednesday. Kochi Corporation is a project partner in the programme supported by the International Climate Initiative. The project is being implemented by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia and the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development of the Kochi Corporation. The project steering committee formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has the Additional Secretary of the Ministry as its Chairperson. The members of the committee include the Mayor, city representatives from Panaji and Mangaluru, member secretaries of the State Biodiversity Boards of Kerala, Karnataka and Goa, the chairperson and secretary of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and the Executive Director of the ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia. A.K. Mehta, Ministry Additional Secretary, presided over the meeting. Ms. Jain, B. Meenakumari, Chairperson, NBA; J.R. Bhatt and Sujata Arora of the Ministry; Rabi Kumar, Secretary, NBA; Emani Kumar, Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia; and Monalisa Sen, Programme Coordinator, ICLEI South Asia; attended.

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