Park to gel ancestore with successors coming up in Varanasi

Varanasi, May 28 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government is planning to establish a Smriti Park where which will encourge the heads of different families to plant a sapling of their choice in the park.

The Park, for which land was being scouted, will be a first of its kind, and help to establish an everlasting bond between environment conservation and the joint families of the city.

''We will encourage the heads of different families to plant a sapling of their choice in the park. The care of the tree will be taken by the family whose head had planted the sapling. The park will render a popular picnic spot for each family under the tree which was planted by their ancestors,'' Uttar Pradesh Forest Minister (Independent Charge) Virendra Singh said here today.

Addressing a news conference here, he said that Smriti Park will serve dual purpose, for one making environment conservation the duty of every family and the other to give respect to the elderly members of a family, especially at a time, when they was suffering a lot at the hands of their family.

''The soul of the Smriti or Memorial Park will be the establishment of Green Memorial of forefathers, where every family could relive the treasured time spent with their endeared ancestors,'' Mr Singh said.

About another initiative of the Forest Department, Mr Singh said that developing a 'Nakshatra Forest' in the outskirts of Varanasi was also being contemplated.

Expressing concern over the shrinking green cover in the ancient city, Mr Singh, the an MLA from Chiraigaon, said that an aerial view of the city revealed that Varanasi, which was once replete with greenery was now denuded of trees.

''Varanasi had become a concrete jungle owing to unbridled construction activity,'' he said.

An ambitious project of re-charging the city with greenery by planting trees in every colony of the city was being mulled.

''The residents of every colony will be supposed to plant a tree of their choice, preferably Neem, Banayan and Pipal, and also ensure total care of these trees,'' the minister said.

A survey will soon be conducted to ascertain the total number of planned and unplanned colonies in the city, following which the tree plantation drive will begin, he added.

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