Centuries old floura, fauna at historic Ram Bagh face extinction

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 30

Even as hundreds of crores are being spent on the conservation of historic structures and landscaping of the historic Ram Bagh, which houses summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, no effort is being made to preserve and secure its centuries-old flora and fauna.

Many rare trees in Ram Bagh, which normally grow in the Himalayas and Nilgiri Hills, have been facing vagaries of nature, besides mischievous acts of the people. Some of these trees are as old as two centuries. Environmentalists feel that lack of their upkeep may lead to their extinction.

Spread over 84 acres, the garden came into existence in 1818 as the summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was developed on the lines of Shalimar Garden in Lahore.

However, today trees and plants in the garden are facing official apathy. An INTACH member, Dr Suresh Chohan, said it was difficult for these trees to survive in the prevailing environment. Pointing towards some simbal trees, Dr Chohan said, “It is not easy to find such trees with huge trunks and shady spread, at least in the state.” He said a number of such trees, particularly their leaves, fruit, flowers and bark, had medicinal properties. But due to ignorance, medicinally valuable parts of trees were being discarded in dustbins, he added.

The historic garden boasts of a treasure of rare trees. Referring to the oldest available tree of gingo biloba, Dr Chohan said it was used in making homoeopathic medicines. Diospyrose cordifolia, commonly known as tendu, and akash neem are other trees used in preparing medicines. Kadam is another significant tree which is a part of many ayurvedic and Unani medicines. Ram Bagh has a small number of palm trees along with a couple of royal palms (oreodoxa regia) make the garden unique in the northern region. The variety is normally found near the coastal areas. Tropical trees mahogany (swietenia mahogani) and sarinh (albizia procera) can also be seen in the garden. Standing aloof, junglee badam (sterculia alata) attracts attention of visitors by its dark green leaves. It is the favourite of horticulturists for its straight growth and is used extensively in urban landscaping.

A 200-year-old ashoka (polyalthia longifolia) at the entrance of the garden from Mall Road welcomes visitors. The rare tree of camphor, with its huge trunk, is the favourite haunt of senior citizens. The garden has a number of black and white eucalyptuses. It also has three varieties of trees used in ayurvedic medicines — harar (terminallia chevula), behera (terminallia bellerica) and mahua (madhuce).

These trees require treatment for their longevity. A comprehensive plan enlisting names of rare trees, their benefits and ways to preserve them need to be highlighted for visitors at the summer palace of the legendary Sikh King.

Dr Chauhan said many trees were choked with concrete roads and tiles around them. Big trees needed pruning, he added.