The butterfly effect

Navi Mumbai will soon have a butterfly garden at Sector-1 in Vashi. Modelled on the Ovalekarwadi Butterfly Park in Thane and with a budget of  around `3-4 crore, this garden will be spread over 800 metres and have over a hundred species of butterflies.

Vashi residents have a new hotspot to look forward to. In the next two years, the civic body is planning to develop a butterfly garden at Sector-1, Vashi similar to the Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden in Thane. The one to be developed in Vashi will be home to many unusual species of butterflies.
Mayor Sagar Naik has taken up this project and plans to develop the butterfly garden at Karamveer Bhaurao Patil garden in Vashi. Local corporator Vaibhav Gaikwad, informs, “The garden will spread over 800 metres. A budget of Rs 3 to 4 crore is alloted to this garden. Since, this locality is full of greenery it will able to attract butterflies.”  
A variety of plants will be planted to attract and feed the butterflies and caterpillars. Colourful butterflies from across India as well as a few international species will be brought to the garden and special care will be taken to breed them.
Mayor Sagar Naik, shares, “The reason for developing a butterfly garden is that they are on the verge of extinction. Unlike in my days, today we hardly spot one or two butterflies in a garden. We will appoint biologists to maintain the garden. We have studied the project well and are confident about its practicality.”
A source shares, “Initially, the entry fee will be extremely nominal and gradually as the garden gains momentum, a higher fee will be charged.”
Shekhar Kamble, a resident of Vashi, adds, “I have been to the Thane butterfly garden and there are a variety of beautiful butterflies. It is a great idea to have this sort of garden in Navi Mumbai. We don’t get to see many butterflies in the city due to deforestation and urbanisation. This step will be an informative project for all of us. I would love to go there along with my friends and family members.”
Rajendra Ovalekar, who developed the garden at Thane, adds, “A deep research must be done before starting the development of the garden. Butterfly gardens cannot be created anywhere. Lot of factors including the pollution and ambiance of the area have to be considered. Fruit bowls have to be put up regularly and changed every three to four days so that the insects feed well. One very important factor to be considered is whether the plot already has butterflies as they can be attracted only from a maximum distance of three to four kilometres.”

About Ovalekar butterfly garden
Rajendra Ovalekar, along with Mumbai’s best-known butterfly expert, Isaac Kehimkar of the BNHS, have planted several nectaring plants such as passion flowers, hibiscus and lantanas to attract butterflies. Other than these, they have planted chickoo, banana, mango and berry trees to provide additional fodder for the butterflies, who feed on over-ripe fruits. The garden is open to visitors only on Sundays, between 8am and 12.30pm. The entry fee is `50 per person.

--Indira Thakur