Over 80 species of butterflies are found in Chandigarh. The smallest butterfly, Freyeria Putli, with a wing size of 16 mm to 18 mm, is also found here and can be seen flying very slowly near thick grass.

Virinder Walia, a professor in the department of Zoology at Panjab University (PU) and a consultant in this project, told IANS: 'Butterflies are very restless creatures and fast-fliers; they keep on chasing each other. We have to understand that they are not like other insects and we have to look after them for the entire 365 days.'

He said the administration has to engage the services of various scientists and research scholars to make the project successful.

Sources in the administration said that a budget of over Rs.7 million (Rs. 70 lakh) has been proposed for the project.

'As per the normal reproduction cycle of butterflies, this (August-September) is the most conducive time of the year for them to lay eggs. We have to plant plenty of host trees like cassia siamea and chukrasia tabularis to attract them,' said Walia, who has also written a book on butterflies, 'Butterflies of North-West India'.

Cassia siamea is an ornamental tree with colourful flowers. Butterflies are attracted towards the colour and nectar of its flowers. Chukrasia has no flowers but its dense shade is the best place for butterflies to take shelter.

Even the city-based environmentalists are quite enthused with the idea of the park.

'We are quite enthusiastic about the project as this initiative of the administration will bring the dwellers of this city closer to nature,' said Rohit Ruhella, an environmentalist based here.

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted at alkesh.s@ians.in)