Mangaluru : The newly built park at SP office premises and the Inspector General of Police (Western Range) inaugurated on April 4, Monday.

The park has got a brand-new look with a green landscape replacing the dry patch of land that led up to the office steps. In addition to the landscape, palm trees and crotons have been planted in the area. Karnataka Bank had given Rs. 5 lakh for this work.

The landscape has been designed by Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D., who has done a doctorate in genetics and plant breeding. A striking feature of the landscape is the way the plants have been placed in a symmetrical manner. “If you divide the area into two halves, the image of one half can be seen in the other,” Mr. Sharanappa said.

According to Mr. Sharanappa, the biggest challenge was the laterite soil, which makes it difficult for roots to penetrate deep. They had to dig up about a meter of soil and put other types of soil and nutrients before planting the saplings. The saplings that have been planted can grow in this nature, he said.

The area needs to be watered and maintained, which is expected to cost around Rs. 10,000 a month.

P. Jayaram Bhat, chairman and MD of Karnataka Bank, inaugurated the landscape on Monday and assured of support from the bank to maintain the landscape.

He added that the bank was ready to get involved in more activities that help the pubic.