Minister ‘frees’ mango tree after photo goes viral
JAIPUR: Season of mangoes is here and so is the harsh summer. While humans have ways to relish the juicy fruit in comforts of their air-conditioned homes in the city, birds have limited options to perch on.
Jaipur’s Civil Lines, which is famous not only for the sprawling bungalows of elected MLAs
and ministers, but also mango trees growing on the premises of the bungalows.
One such fruiting mango tree at the official residence of minister for cooperatives and Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana departments, Udaylal Anjana’s stood covered entirely with a green tarpaulin for apparent reasons, but only until a photograph of this covered mango tree went viral on social media.
Within hours, the tarpaulin was taken off and the tree is abuzz with birds again.
“Why a tree is valued only for fruits, it is also a home for birds, it maintains the oxygencarbon dioxide cycle, bees and insects depend on it and moreover the tree needs sunlight for photosynthesis. They must not be covered,” says Sharad Purohit, president of Youth Aranya, an organisation dedicated to wildlife and biodiversity.
“Trees of Civil Lines are home to beautiful bird species like coppersmith barbet, parakeet, cuckoo and grey hornbill. They must get unhindered excess to trees,” Purohit added.
When contacted twice over phone for his views, the minister’s official staff cited his busyness in an event.
Meanwhile, parrots are busy nibbling on that tree’s unripe mangoes.