Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), July 12 (TIWN) The area within five kilometres of the radius of the Ganga River in Prayagraj will now be developed as a forest land.

Co-convener of Ganga Samagra Kashi province, Rakesh Mishra, while detailing on the ambitious plan, said, “Panchkol, that is, Banyan, Peepal, Pakad, Bel and indigenous Babul (acacia plant) trees have medicinal properties as they are able to exhale large amounts of oxygen. These trees also hold a special place in our Sanatan traditions and texts. So, we decided to plant saplings of these trees along the 5-km radius of Ganga and also in the ponds of the villages”. “Currently, the number of these trees have reduced to a great extent owing to many reasons which include the materialistic way of life of people. Now, the organisation has come up with an action plan to plant and take care of these five types of trees,” added Mishra.

“The cooperation of the local people is also required for this initiative. To protect the plants, tree guards are being procured from the residents of the area. Individuals have been given the responsibility of taking care of the planted saplings. Each sapling is named after the individual or any elder of their family,” explained Mishra. Sandeep Dwivedi, convenor of Ganga Samagra (trans-Yamuna), said, “In many areas, this tradition of planting saplings is being introduced as a ‘manglik’ (pious) event, because of which locals are taking great interest in it. People, especially those around Manaiya Ghat, Mungari, Bendo, Rampur, Kavara of Karchana, are planting saplings in such events. Last year, 585 saplings were planted by the organisation. Of these, 335 plants are safe so far.”