By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that state’s first ever botanical garden would be developed at Katara Hills located near the state capital Bhopal.
All the species of plants found the world over will be planted in the proposed garden to be developed in a vast area of about one thousand hectares. The Chief Minister said that conceived as the best botanical garden of India, it will have recreation facilities besides tourism attraction.
Chouhan made this announcement while inaugurating the state level “Van Mahotsava” at Laharpur (Katara Hills) today. Finance Minister Raghavji and Forest Minister Vijay Shah were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Chouhan said that the trees always occupied an important place in the Indian culture. In India, there has been an age-old rich tradition of worshipping the trees identifying them as god. He said that we cannot think of our existence without trees. Hence, our ancestors always considered the trees as god.
Underling the importance of trees, the Chief Minister said that protection and plantation of trees is a must to protect the very existence of life. He said that trees, flowers and leaves are inseparably linked with auspicious rituals of our life. Not even a single religious-social ritual is complete without them, he added.
The Chief Minister further observed that the government cannot go all alone for development and conservation of forests. Hence, people’s participation is necessary in this task. Expressing happiness over the fact Chouhan said that the tree plantation carried out at Laharpur during the Van Mahotsava of the year 2007-08, is taken care of nicely.
Giving an outline of the efforts being made for development and conservation of forests in the state, the Principal Secretary, Forests, Prashant Mehta elaborated on the future plans of the department.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest P. V. Gangopadhyay said that about five crore saplings are being planted in the state under the “Van Mahotsava” this year. Besides, two crore seeds are also being sown. He informed that the Forest Department is observing this year as the ‘Bamboo Year’ thereby promoting the bamboo plantation in the state. He also spelt out about the formulation of new policy for implementation of My City – Green City Scheme and carrying out plantation along the riverside.
Earlier, the Chief Minister Chouhan inaugurated the Van Mahotsava by planting a sapling of Kadamb. Conservator Dr. A.K. Bhattacharya expressed gratitude towards the guests. ([email protected])