Two botanical gardens to be developed in Kankhal

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 3

Chief Minister Harish Rawat launched a sapling plantation drive at the revered shrine of Shri Daksheshwar Mahadev here today and stressed the importance of planting saplings for environment conservation.

Rawat said with the impact of global warming and environment degradation visible on a large scale, the need of the hour was to generate awareness among masses about environment conservation.

He announced that two botanical gardens, namely Mahavir Tyagi Vatika and Heera Ballabh Vatika, would be developed in Kankhal.

Rawat said the Haridwar Roorkee Development Authority would plant saplings and maintain the two botanical gardens.

He also gave necessary directives to Divisional Forest Officer HK Singh to provide various herbal and medicinal saplings, such as rudraksh, bel and kadamb for the botanical gardens.

The DFO assured the Chief Minister that high-grade rudraksh varieties would be imported from Nepal.

Prior to paying obeisance at Shri Daksheswar Mahadev shrine, Rawat anointed shivlingams on the successful completion of the Shravan Kanwar pilgrimage in which more than 2.5 crore Lord Shiva devotees (Kanwariyas) had arrived in Haridwar to take the holy dip and fetch Ganga jal.

The Chief Minister also thanked the Mela administration and local people for ensuring smooth conduct of the Kanwar pilgrimage.

Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj, Mahant Mohan Das Kothari, Sanjay Mahant, Visheshwaranand, Sharadpuri Maharaj, Mahant Kamal Das, former municipal chairperson Satpal Brahamchari, legislators Hari Das, Bhim Lal Arya, Zila Panchayat vice president Rao Affaq Ali, former women commission chairperson Dr Santosh Chauhan, District Magistrate Harbans Singh Chug and district police chief Rajeev Swarup were present on the occasion.