Bhubaneswar: Despite being a Sunday, the mass community afforestation programme at Sikharchandi Hill under ‘Sabuja Pahada’ (Green Hillocks), a unique community plantation drive jointly organised by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), and Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) has received an overwhelming response today as the residents of Bhubaneswar and nearby sub-urban areas responded to call and stood up for a noble cause – improving the green cover and saving environment – themselves and for their future generations.
Over 5,000 people from different sections of the society thronged the famous Sikharchandi foothills early morning and planted and adopted more than 3,400 saplings of different species in an area spread across five acres. Nearly 2,000 school and college students, hundreds of senior citizens and members of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), IT company representatives, differently-abled persons, members of Self-help Groups (SHGs), market associations, religious associations, transgender community, NGOs, representatives of political parties among others joined the initiative with great interest.
Notably, the BDA has undertaken the redevelopment of the Sikharchandi hill area project to transform it into a major tourist attraction soon after the approval of the Master Plan by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in January this year. The project will spread over a patch of land measuring nearly 54 acres, including the main temple and its surrounding areas and it has been divided into four zones.
As per the plan, Zone-1 will have a parking facility, an amusement park for visitors, and a developed space for other activities, including basic amenities. Similarly, Zone 2 will have a View Point and a Trekking Route. Zone-3 & 4 will be developed for entertainment-based activities along with a big community center.
Expressing his sincere thanks to all participants, Balwant Singh, IAS, Vice-Chairman, BDA said: “The main purpose of this drive is to give a further boost to the green cover in and around this place by involving every section of the society. We always encourage people’s participation and their constructive suggestions whatever we do to ensure sustainable and regulated development of Bhubaneswar and its iconic places.”
Elaborating on the ongoing redevelopment and beautification works being carried out by BDA, Singh said very soon people will experience its complete transformation with available of all basic amenities in a proper and disciplined manner. A slew of facilities such as public parking, community center, children’s play areas, recreational center, trekking route, eviction of encroachments, viewpoint, battery-operated vehicles for differently-abled persons, prasad shops, electric buses to the hilltop for tourists, dedicated and separate zones for picnickers among others are being constructed for benefits of one and all with an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore.
The BDA has been taking all possible measures in a collaborative manner with BMC, Commissionerate Police, civil society organisations, and local stakeholders to preserve its identity as a religious and spiritual place nestled with ample greenery, peace, and serenity.
Today, about 3,400 saplings from 27 different species were planted and adopted by the community. These include Neem, Sissco, Karanja, Bara, Pippal, Bakula, Arjuna, Mahogany, Rohini, Pesta Badam, Red Sandal, Yellow Trumpt, and Pink Trumpt are under the Forest Species category. Similarly, the flower species include Patuli, Kanchan, Akashmali, Sunari, Champa, Tabovia Rosia, Spathodia Camanculata, Ashoka, and Terminalia Arjentia. Fruit Species comprise Jackfruit, Custard Apple, Bel, Jamun, Tentuli, Mango, Guava, and Krushnachuda.
Elated over the voluntary participation of such a large number of people, Suresh Pant, IFS, Managing Director, OFDC, said, “People’s spontaneous participation in such plantation programme is key to get success and increasing the green cover in and around our surroundings. We should and must do something every day to protect our environment for us and for our future generations.”
