Industrialists plan ‘Panchi Vihar’ near Baddi

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, October 9

With a view to preserving barren land of the state’s industrial hub of Baddi and creating a habitat for the declining bird populace, the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Industrial Development Authority along with some industrial houses have initiated an innovative “Panchi Vihar” project.

An area of about 30 bighas near the entry point of Baddi has been chosen for this project where industrial houses like Elin Appliances, Glenmark, Suna Pharma, Panacea Biotech, Abbot and Novartis have pooled in as much as Rs 50 lakh.

“Crass commercialization, multi-fold increase in the modes of transportation and intensive industrialization have fragmented and reduced the bird habitats. The use of pesticides in agriculture has adversely hit their food supplies and issues like hunting have made bird populations vulnerable thus necessitating the need to preserve the environment” explained Lalit Jain, Chief Executive Officer, of the authority.

Since the birds are an integral component of the ecosystem, their declining numbers is a cause of concern, thus necessitating the need for preventing these species from becoming endangered or extinct.

“The idea for developing this is to bring back the native forests which provide a natural habitat for these birds” explains JS Kang, Factory Manager, of Elin Appliances.

Explaining the project he said various types of plantations would be grown in the area. Shrubs will encompass the area consisting of high tension electrical wires hanging above and various varieties of herbs. Flowering plants would be planted here. Short bamboo trees along the tracks will comprise the sub-layers and the trees comprising the forest cover would be planted in the remaining areas. A variety of fruit bearing trees to attract fauna like squirrels, peacocks etc, will be planted. A grown up tree absorbs about 26 pounds/11.79 kg of carbon dioxide in a year and the number of lives supported by one tree in a year provides adequate oxygen to support 30 lives.

Lalit Jain said planting 30 trees per sq meter would require 50 different species and create a multi-layer forest whose maintenance is free requiring no pesticides. It will create an organic zone of natural biodiversity.

“Our focus will be on developing forest cover and creating forests and trails, including shrubs but not big lawns as the latter require regular maintenance and create thin single layer of greenery. This proves to be inimical to the environment in the long run as it occupies ground explains Kang.

Developing forests along with trails would require no maintenance. It will occupy empty space and give fresh fruits. The most significant aspect is, however, the 30 times more absorption of carbon dioxide and water retention. It will also provide an apt place for walks.