Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is set to establish its second Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) in Sanaghagara, Keonjhar district, as announced by officials on Wednesday. This decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday evening. The project, envisioned as a flagship initiative by the Chief Minister, will cover 134 acres and is expected to be completed by 2027. Its objectives include promoting biodiversity conservation, research, education, and community engagement, alongside functioning as a year-round eco-tourism destination. The centre will feature thematic gardens and display a variety of plant species, such as orchids, roses, bamboos, cacti, forest fruits, a fern garden, a medicinal plant garden, a flower market, and a children’s play area.
Majhi instructed officials to develop the RPRC as a unique tourist attraction near the Sanaghagara waterfall, ensuring it remains open for visitors throughout the year. Given the high incidence of elephant encroachment in the region, he also recommended that the Keonjhar district administration implement measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts, including the construction of deep trenches, and ensure that the natural flow of the Machhakandana river, which passes through the proposed site, is preserved. The first RPRC was established in Bhubaneswar in 1985 as a recreational garden aimed at providing a green space for the capital’s residents.