National Centre for Human Settlement and Environment (NCHSE) - Environment Helpline and Friends of Environment Bhopal Jointly organised a Tree Walk in Tulsi Nagar on Sunday.
The walk started at 8 AM from Mayur Park on link Road No 1 and passed through residential areas of Tulsi Nagar, 2 no bus stop to Mayur Park. The objective of the walk was to make the people aware about the green heritage of the Bhopal, which is likely to fall prey to the onslaught of proposed Smart City Project in Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar.
About 150 persons from various parts of Bhopal including Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar participated in the walk. On the route the walk stopped at places where rare and very old trees are standing within the residential premises.
Forestry Expert Sudesh Waghmare explained the importance of such trees. Professor Savita Raje also explained the historical, architectural and medicinal importance of various trees. Other subject matter specialists like Avnish Saxena spoke about the importance of trees and role of citizen’s in protecting them. Rashmi Jha spoke about the medicinal values of various plants and trees growing in Tulsi Nagar.
During the walk people realized that in the project area there are numerous trees which are more than 100 years of age and attaining height of more than 75ft.
Experts explained that some of these are not native of Bhopal, but have now been naturalized. They explained that some of these trees have been brought here from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri lanka. Bhopal being a cosmopolitan city has trees of various species naturally growing in various climatic conditions of India, which have been brought in by the people who have settled in Bhopal over the years.
Participants also raised voices against proposed cutting of trees due to proposed smart city in Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar. Common people with families, Architects, Artists, social activists, businessmen, Chattered Accountants, Retired Bureaucrats, Foresters, environmentalists joined the walk. Fifty per cent of the participants were women and students.
Participants vowed to continue this initiative and join in Tree walk on next Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Shivaji Nagar, which will start at 8.00 AM from the Office of Mahila Chetna Manch, Kalyani Hostel Campus, Shivaji Nagar.