Plant saplings in memory of your loved ones

ALLAHABAD : Acting on the directives of deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, the forest department will provide land to citizens to plant saplings in memory of their parents or kin. These green patches in the heart of the city will be developed as ‘Smriti Van’.

“Since there is space crisis in urban area, I have spoken to the municipal commissioner for providing us land in order to develop Smriti Van.

People will plant sapling and could also put a metallic name plate with the inscription of the relative or friend to whom it is dedicated.

The emotional bond of people will encourage them to nurture the plant till it grows into a tree. This project will succeed only with the cooperation of people,” said Manoj Kumar Khare, divisional forest officer, Allahabad.

Khare said they will most probably identify some parks in the city where Smriti Vans could be developed.

The Smriti Vans will have some 500 to 1000 plants each. If required, citizen will also be allowed to adopt a tree in the memory of their relative, he added.

“This project will be launched soon. This will also help meet the requirements of a Smart City where denizens will be able to breathe fresh air in a clean and green environment,” he added.

Dozens of plantation drives are conducted in the city by different organizations round-theyear.

However, very few of these organizations take care of plants or water them regularly. Due to which most of the plants die in this scorching heat. Often stray cattle graze on green plants on roadsides in the absence of tree guards.