Satish Aditya
Motihari : East Champaran District Administration in North Bihar has launched an ecological and social movement named ” Save Our Gguardian Trees” with the support of rural women folk particularly `Jeevika Deedis` and farmers with an aim to protecting 70 to 400 years old trees including Banyan, Sacred Fig (Peepal), Neem, Ficus Virens ( Pakad), Mahua and Mahogani, to increase green cover in the district located on Indo-Nepal border. This environmental movement, a first of its kind in the state, aims at promoting sustainable management of natural resources.
East Champran DMShirshat Kapil Ashok said that at least 1,450 trees ( 70 to 400 years old) have been identified by the district administration andnotified as Guardian Trees. The administration has started work totake care of these trees. Besides, an App has been specially designed and named ” Prayawaran Pprahari” by the administration in which the listed old trees have been given Geo tag number, name, and locations besides their other details for information of the people. This App will display the social and historical importance associated with these old trees..
The DM further said that a Banyan tree believed to be 400 years old has been identified at village Sonbarsa under Harsidhi
block with the support of villagers. It had remained neglected for the last several decades. The DM along with large numbers
of men and women of the village put soil on its roots and decorated it with flowers and balloons on the eve of Raksha Bandhan
day and the Jeevika Deedis tied Rakhi on this Guardian Tree and took a vow to protect them as a family guardian. It is learnt that the women women tied Rakhi on 1,450 Gurdian trees under 27 blocks of the district on Raksha Bandhan Day. At village Rupani under Patahi block, the women folk tied Rakhi on a Peepal tree and took oath to protect this sacred tree and will not allow anyone to cut it.
DM Shirshat Kapil Ashok said that the administration has fixed a target of planting 16,00,007 saplings during the current financial year and 8,00,040 saplings have already been planted under MANREGA through Jeevika Deedis to increase the green cover to 17 % from existing 15 % in the district.