post news network, Bhubaneswar, April 29: Doing something special to remember an important event in your life or buying your near and dear ones a gift has always been the best of ways to remember people and important dates. But planting a tree in memory of your loved ones or during an important event such as your marriage anniversary, birth of your first child or any other event is something unique, which not only helps you keep your memories alive but also uphold a cause – conservation of nature.
The Smritivan (Memory Forest) at Patrapada adjacent to NH-5 offers people this opportunity. Till date about 20 prominent members of the society, including a couple of judges, IAS officers, high-placed government officials and doctors, have planted saplings in memory of their loved ones. 10 more have applied to the officials of the ‘forest’ for an opportunity to do the same. A total of 1150 memory plants can be planted in the ‘forest’, being developed in an area of 17.5 acres by the Bhubaneswar Range Office, Patrapada under the City Forest Division. One would get the opportunity on a first-come-first-serve basis. The forest authorities have planned to plant around 10,000 plants, including the memory plants, along with other ornamental plants and trees.
To plant a ‘memory tree’ one is required to fill up an application form and subplant, trees, mit it along with a demand draft of Rs 8000. Around 40 types of plant species have been selected by experts in keeping with the nature of the soil and the environment in and around the city. One has to select saplings from an existing list of different types of trees that includes neem, amla, jamun etc. An initiative of the state government, the plantation work started in April 2014.
Famous landscape designer and ex-director of soil conservation, Bijayaram Das, has designed the entire project. “The entire area was a murom quarry and later it was used as a garbage dumping zone by the BMC and by the hospitals in the city. After a thorough survey we laid out the design for the park.,” said Das. The construction of a pool over which there will be an ornamental bridge has been completed. The pool will have boating facility. There will be a canteen, information-cum- community hall, which can be used to conduct meetings, discussions or any other sort of gatherings, an official of the forest department said. “We have also designed three gazebos, to be constructed at different locations in the park. The entire area will be landscaped in a proper way to beautify the place. To increase the beauty of the park there will be three fountains in different location,” said Das.
Das who earlier had also designed the Medicinal Garden, is one of the prominent landscape artist in the state. “I have this hobby of designing parks and gardens. I have designed many parks like Ekamra Kanan, parks near Chilika etc. I was also involved in projects outside Orissa in places like Bangalore, Gujarat etc.,” said the octogenarian, who now basically works in and around the city and avoids going outside the state due to health reasons.
Bihsnu Charan Behera, forest range officer said, “ In memory of some near and dear ones, people often do lots of things but nobody does any plantation activities, which will preserve our nature and beautify the surrounding. I hope that this initiative of the forest department would receive positive response from the people and they will come forward and plant trees to commemorate their loved ones and that in turn will enhance the beauty of the city.”
Behera said that each sapling would be placed at the centre of a 36 sqft green lawn, beautified with ornamental plants, and there will be special landscaping done in the entire area. “A granite stone plaque containing the name of the person in whose memory the sapling is planted will be placed near it. We have standardised the plaque design and its content, so that all will look similar in shape and size giving the park a uniform look.”
Arun Mohanty who had planted two trees in the park said, “I have planted two saplings in memory of my uncle who was a former MLA and my father who was a freedom fighter. Hardly anybody remembers them, so I thought to plant two trees in their memory.”
Hajari Abdul Bari, who has applied for the permission to plant a tree in the park and has already cleared all the official formalities, is eagerly waiting for the call to plant a sapling. “I love nature and planting trees is something I often do. I am going to plant a tree in Smritivan in memory of my grandfather who was my inspiration. I hope that when it will grow up I will get a chance to sit under it and pray for him,” he said.
With lawns, gazebos, fountains, community halls etc the Smirtivan may soon become a sought-after place where one can spend quality time with family and friends and may even become a tourist hot spot in the near future.
