This banyan tree was planted six years back in 2016 on the roadside by a fish vendor, Mama, near the fish market close to the second gate of Jayadev Vatika in Khandagiri here.
Now, the tree provides shelter for human beings, stray animals and birds. It gives the coolness equivalent to more than two thousand air coolers/ conditioners.
“Thanks to Mama for his far sight! It is a small endeavour but of major impact to beat warming of the climate. Let us try to observe such activities going on around the places of our stay and bring to limelight to set example for others,” says eminent environmentalist Dr Sundara Narayana Patro.