RAJKOT: As a reminder to people about the importance of oxygen in human lives, the social forestry circle Rajkot aims to rope in public, especially those who lost their near and dear ones to Covid, to plant trees and strengthen city’s lungs this monsoon.
Forest department officials in Rajkot and Morbi districts are asking people to plant trees and create oxygen parks in every village.
The social forestry circles of the forest department across the state plant trees before every monsoon.
However, this time they want to enlist people’s participation to drive the message home about the importance of breathable air in our lives.
Talking to TOI about his unique idea, deputy conservator of forest Rajkot circle Ravi Prasad Radhakrishna said, “People have understood the importance of oxygen and that’s why this year we have started creating an oxygen park in every village.
We are especially asking those families to do physical work (shramdan) by planting saplings in the memories of their lost kin or if any critical family member had recovered with oxygen support.
Only they would realize better the importance of oxygen to save life.” He further said that people will be asked to plant a tree and also maintain it.
“This will also serve the purpose of maintenance of the tree.
We can also put a board in that park stating that it’s a Covid victims’ memorial park,” Radhakrishna added.
The forest department started the campaign since June first week and has planted more than 6,000 trees so far in nearly 12 villages of Morbi, Tankara, Dhoraji, Upleta, Kotda Sangani and Vicchiya talukas of Rajkot and Morbi districts and continue the exercise.
Hitesh Serathiya and his brother Girish, both residents of Kalana village in Dhoraji taluka, had tested positive for Covid two months ago.
While Girish succumbed to the virus in a private hospital of Rajkot, Hitesh survived after remaining on oxygen support for a few days.
After recovering, Hitesh along with deceased Girish’s wife and their 16-year old son, participated in planting a tree in memory of their dear one in an oxygen park that has 500 trees in the village.
“Nobody would understand it better than me about the importance of oxygen in surviving.
We planted a tree in the memory of my brother and we will maintain the tree to ensure that these trees grow bigger and keep the memory of our dear one alive in our hearts and minds,” said Hitesh.
According to villagers, around 300 people had tested positive in this village of whom 20 lost their lives.
Trupti Joshi, range forest officer (RFO) Rajkot said, “People have now understood how they had to struggle to get oxygen during the peak of the second wave of the pandemic.
We explained to them about the importance of trees and the families of Covid victims agreed to provide their help in planting trees.
They promised not to make this a lipservice merely but continue work to maintain the trees.” N J Rojasra RFO Morbi said, “People believe that they are planting the trees for the peace of departed soul.
They also took oath of maintaining the trees planted in the memory of their loved ones.” The forest department is providing saplings for free and in most villages, residents had asked for specific species like fruits, flowers, tulsi and other species.
The department is planning to cover maximum villages of both the districts in this monsoon season.