Bhubaneswar: Planting a tree in memory of your loved ones is something unique, which not only helps you keep your memories alive but also uphold a cause of conservation of nature.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Satyabrata Sahu has planted trees in memory of his departed father and mother in the Smruti Van (memorial garden) on 17 July here.
ACS Shri Sahu visited the Smriti Van and planted saplings to remember his parents.
A true nature lover and an obedient son, Shri Sahu, who loves his mother and father passionately planted two trees for remembrance.
Not only ACS Shri Sahu, many renowned personalities have planted trees in memory of their family members, including former Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, ex-IAS officer R. K. Sharma, retired IAS Mona Sharma, former PCCF J D Sharma, former RERA Chairman, Amiya Mohapatra and others have planted trees.
Many other prominent members of the society including judges, high-placed government officials, doctors and businessmen, have planted saplings in memory of their loved ones.
So far 1245 persons have planted trees and there is lot of space for the memory plants in the ‘forest’, being developed in an area of 17.5 acres by the Bhubaneswar Range Office, Patrapada under the City Forest Division, forest officials said.
The garden at Patrapada on the city outskirts was developed in April 2014 so that people could dedicate trees to their dear ones, celebrate birthdays or anniversaries by planting saplings.
In the garden, each sapling is placed in the centre of a 36-sq ft green lawn, beautified with ornamental plants, and special landscaping done there to the entire 17.5 acres.
A stone plaque containing the name of the person in whose memory the sapling is planted will be placed near it.
To give it a uniform look, the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change has designed the plaque and its content, so that all will look similar in shape and size, the official said.
The management of the memorial park is looked after by Ekamra Van Society, which manages the Ekamra Van on the western bank of Bindusagar with more than 100 medicinal plant species.
Interested persons can contact the Khandagiri Forest Range Officer or the Divisional Forest Officer(DFO) to plant a sapling in memory of their kin.
A minimal fee is being charged for proper care of the plant. One would get the opportunity on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Cost per plant is Rs.8000, which includes cost of a plaque and lifetime maintenance.