In a bid to promote tourism in Naxal-affected Bastar district, the Chhattisgarh Forest department is developing a "cactus garden" in Jagdalpur town, over 280 kilometres from here, an official said Sunday.
The garden, which will have several varieties of cacti, will also serve as a study centre for students, he added.
"This first-of-its-kind cactus garden is being developed over an area of 540 square metres in Lamni Park in Jagdalpur at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and will have around 200-250 varieties of cacti," Jagdalpur Sub Divisional Forest Officer DKS Maurya told PTI Sunday.
A specially-designed dome to house the cacti is in place and saplings would start coming in by next month, Maurya said, adding that experts from Pune and Nashik in neighbouring Maharashtra were being sounded out for technical help.
He said the move was initiated to increase footfalls in the 200-hectare Lamni Park and also help students study these leafless plants.
He added that a bird aviary is also planned at Lamni Park.