Bolpur, Mukesh Tiwari: Sandalwood saplings will be planted once again in view of Van Mahotsav or Aranya Saptah in Shantiniketan of Birbhum district of West Bengal. However, there was a time when more than one sandalwood trees were present in Santiniketan. But over the decades many valuable sandalwood trees are on the way to extinction due to natural calamities and theft of sandalwood trees by thieves. However, once again the Bolpur Forest Department has taken the initiative to fill Shantiniketan with sandalwood trees.
14 thousand white and blood sandalwood plants will be planted
Similarly, 14 thousand white and blood sandalwood plants are being distributed by the Bolpur Forest Department during ‘Van Mahotsav’ or ‘Forest Week’. After this news, the people of Shantiniketan are very excited. It is said that when Maharishi Devendranath Tagore came to Shantiniketan, he was mesmerized to see the Chaityam and sandalwood trees. Which is found in the works of many famous writers. Even a mention is found in a poem by poet Sunil Gangopadhyay.
White sandalwood trees missing from Shantiniketan
Because Shantiniketan was once known as the very precious sandalwood forest. Especially white sandalwood trees were found all over Shantiniketan. But, in the last one or two decades due to natural calamities, construction of flats, resorts, hotels, multi-storey buildings, Shantiniketan has turned into a concrete jungle. Naturally the number of sandalwood trees along with other trees also decreased Is. Besides this, many valuable sandalwood trees have been stolen during the invasion and robbery of sandalwood thieves smugglers.
Sandalwood worth lakhs of rupees has been stolen from the areas
There have been reports of theft of sandalwood worth lakhs of rupees from Vishwa Bharti and surrounding areas. However, the Bolpur Forest Department is once again taking the initiative to convert Shantiniketan into a sandalwood forest. Shanti Niketan will once again turn into a sandalwood forest. Blood and white sandalwood trees are being distributed from the only Bolpur range office in Birbhum district during Aranya Saptah. More than 14 thousand sandalwood plants are being planted in Shantiniketan.
Many plants are being planted in Shanti Niketan
Apart from this, valuable fruit and flower plants like Mahogany, Shweti Shaal, Mahul, Shishu, Bot, Ashwattha, Gama etc. will also be distributed among the people of this Aranya week. However, people are more enthusiastic about taking saplings of white and blood sandalwood. They have started distributing saplings, said ranger Pradeep Haldar of Bolpur Forest Department. It will continue till tomorrow. We have also prepared saplings of valuable white and blood sandalwood trees. We are also distributing them. We have been given a target to distribute these saplings. Shantiniketan will be refurnished with sandalwood plants.