Firm wants to turn Eiffel Tower into giant tree

Updated on: 02 December,2011 08:36 AM IST |
Agencies |

As part of an environmental scheme, authorities want to turn the French heritage site into a giant green jungle covered in 6,00,000 plants

As part of an environmental scheme, authorities want to turn the French heritage site into a giant green jungle covered in 6,00,000 plants

(Rs 525 crore) will be spent on making it the most 'ecologically correct' tourist attraction in the world.
But many have already expressed outrage that the world famous 'Iron Lady'u00a0-- which attracts seven million visitors a yearu00a0-- will no longer live up to the vision of its industrial age creators.

Going green: The firm wants to spend Rs 525 crore to make the Eiffel
Tower the most 'ecologically correct' tourist attraction. Pic/getty images

Ginger, an engineering company which specialises in ecological projects, will work with building firm Vinci, and the architect Claude Bucher on the scheme, which is due to be completed within a couple of years.

It will see the 1,063-feet tower turn into a flagship of eco-tourism, introducing thousands of baskets of plants.
They estimate that it will give off 84.2 tonne of carbon dioxide and absorb 87.8 tonne, making it 'carbon positive'.

But visitors queuing up to visit the global icon said they were 'absolutely astonished' at the plans, which are set to see the tower transformed for up to four years, until 2016.

"The whole point of the Eiffel Tower is that it is an engineering masterpiece," said Anil Singh, who was visiting with his wife and two children from Delhi.

Laurent Martin, who has lived in Paris all his life, added: "It is typical of the ridiculous green schemes which are introduced everywhere nowadays."

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