At a time when felling of trees is rampant for various reasons, one man is committed to protecting trees for then last 40 years.
Meet Harishankar Budula of Kolabira village in Jharsuguda district who has dedicated his life for protecting trees.
And, his family also supports his endeavour and despite all odds, Budula and his kin work day in and day out to save trees and raise a jungle. His mission has made many people to call him "Gachha Bajha" (mad for tree). Even age has failed to deter him from his avowed mission as he developed the hobby when he was 15 years old.
Harishankar recalls getting inspired by his grandfather Pradhan Budula, who created a forest by himself planting trees over his own land measuring about 20 acres at Balijori locality in the middle of Samasingh and Kolabira. After working as a Class IV employee in Kolabira High School in the district, he picked up from where his grandfather had left which he continues till date.
His efforts soon picked up pace when other villagers got inspired by his work and started an awareness drive to save the trees and warn people about felling forest trees.
While the effort of the grand old man has been recognised by many organisations, in particular when industrial pollution has put the district in red zone, the State Government is yet to recognise his contribution to improve green cover for which it spends hefty amounts under various schemes.