Holy Boost To UP’s Green Cover: Each District To Get Groves With Trees Mentioned In Hindu Epics

The green cover in the state of Uttar Pradesh is all set to receive a ‘holy boost’ as the Yogi Adityanath government has ordered setting up of groves with trees mentioned in the Vedas and the epics.

The plantation drive which will be kick-started by the Chief Minister himself on 1 July near the Ganga in Bijnor, will see the setting up of either 'Navgraha Vatika', 'Panchavati' or 'Harishankari' in every tehsil of all 75 districts of the state, a report in The Times of India said.

While a Navgraha Vatika has nine types of trees corresponding to nine planets of prominence in Indian astrology, a Panchavati is a grove of five trees namely Peepal, Banyan, Bael (Golden apple), Amla (Indian gooseberry) and Ashoka. The Harishankari is a grove of Pakar, Banyan and Peepal trees planet horizontally so that their canopies merge with each other. While Panchavati is believed to be the forest exile home of Ram and his wife Sita, the Harishankari is said to be mentioned in the Uttar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas.

"This is the first time that we have been asked to set up gardens which are mentioned in Hindu scriptures. As these gardens hold religious and medical significance, they will attract the attention of the public. Even the global theme of World Environment Day, 2017 is 'connecting people with nature'," said Bareilly divisional forest officer, Dharam Singh.

The government has also instructed the forest department to form groves called 'Smriti Vatikas' in all 75 districts of the state where anyone who wishes to can plant saplings to mark any special life event. "Any person can purchase saplings from us to plant in these groves to mark his birthday or anniversary. The sapling will bear the name of the person but the forest department will take care of the plant," said Singh.