Campaign to include 400-yr-old Banyan tree in tourism

 

 

 

On the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, Green Care Society has revived its campaign to save the 400-year-old Vat Vriksh (Banyan tree) at Bamansara village of Bagbahara Komakhan area. In this sequence, society president Vishwanath Panigrahi has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Forest Minister Akbar, Tourism Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, and Chhattisgarh Biodiversity Board Chairman PCCF Rakesh Chaturvedi, requesting them to take necessary measures to preserve the tree and link it to Chhattisgarh Tourism. According to people of the region, this tree is considered to be aged more than 400 years. It is spread in half an acre land. Even as the original trunk has been destroyed, the tree is standing tall with the help of many branches.

 

The tree has turned shelter for many birds. Occasionally bears and other wildlife are seen here taking rest under the shadow. This tree is an excellent example of biodiversity as well as the pride of the state of Chhattisgarh. According to Theeyendra Pratap Singh, a member of the royal family of Komakhan, their ancestors have been worshiping Bastarin Mata under this tree since 1660. It is the center of the faith of the people of the region. Panigrahi said that since 2012, efforts are being made by the Green Care Society to include this location in tourism department of the state government.

 

It was also included in the Kempa scheme by the Forest Department. Banyan Tree Defence Committee was formed in Bamansara. Owing to the private land, land owner Mirgin Bai, donated the land to the Government. The forest department had measured the area on three different occasions but no positive result yielded. All members of the Green Care Society including the historian Vijay Sharma, senior member Vishnu Mahananda, director Amujuri Biswanath from Dantewada, Pandit Bhagirathi Dubey, Chhattisgarhi poet and litterateur Govardhanlal Baghel, Yogesh Badhai Mohgaon, have demanded from the government that soon this tree should be conserved and included in tourism