Bhubaneswar, Sep 5:Puri King and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Monday urged upon people to plant
trees from now so that the need of timber for making of chariots of the Lord Jagannath
and His siblings would be met in coming years.
“Timber is needed
every year for construction of the three chariots of the deities for the Rath
Yatra. It was not a problem in the past as Odisha had a large forest cover, but
now it has become a difficult proposition,” he said while addressing a
state-level conference on the issue jointly organized by the SOA University and
‘Prerana’, an NGO working for protection of environment and forest.
every year for construction of the three chariots of the deities for the Rath
Yatra. It was not a problem in the past as Odisha had a large forest cover, but
now it has become a difficult proposition,” he said while addressing a
state-level conference on the issue jointly organized by the SOA University and
‘Prerana’, an NGO working for protection of environment and forest.
“In view of this
problem, suggestions have even come for construction of permanent metallic
chariots to do away with the need for timber and the thinking is still
persisting,” the Gajapati Maharaja said.
problem, suggestions have even come for construction of permanent metallic
chariots to do away with the need for timber and the thinking is still
persisting,” the Gajapati Maharaja said.
He said the Government
had launched the ‘Shree Jagannath Vana Prakalpa’, an afforestation programme, a
few years ago to ensure availability of trees like ‘Fasi’ needed for chariot
making, but the people should also extend their cooperation by planting such
trees in their own backyard.
had launched the ‘Shree Jagannath Vana Prakalpa’, an afforestation programme, a
few years ago to ensure availability of trees like ‘Fasi’ needed for chariot
making, but the people should also extend their cooperation by planting such
trees in their own backyard.
Addressing the gathering,
Union Minister Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the
endeavour of ‘Prerana’ for protection of environment.
Union Minister Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the
endeavour of ‘Prerana’ for protection of environment.
SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof
Amit Banerjee among many others graced the occasion.
Amit Banerjee among many others graced the occasion.