Suryapet: The Pattana Pragathi Vanam, which was taken up by Suryapet municipality near Durajpally on the occasion of the birthday of Energy Minister G Jagdish Reddy last year, has developed into a natural forest hosting 10,000 trees.
The municipal authorities took up Pattana Pragathi Vanam in two acre of land near Gurajpally on the outskirts of the town on June 18, 2020. In all, 10,000 saplings of 20 varieties including mango, guava, tamarind, tulsi, juvvi and other species were planted in the vanam. The municipality posted two workers to take care of the trees including watering. Subsequently, all the 10,000 saplings survived and grew up into trees based on their variety. The Pattana Pragathi Vanam has now turned into a natural forest providing the much needed lung space for the people of the town. Since it abuts National Highway No. 65, people using the highway can be seen stopping there to spend some time in the forest-like atmosphere.
Speaking to Telangana Today, Commissioner of Suryapet municipality P. Ramanjula Redddy said they developed the Pattana Pragathi Vanam at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. “We have also set up a one km walking track in it,” he said, adding that the municipality had taken up 23 tree parks and three Pattana Pragathi Vanams under the limits of Suryapet municipality on the directions of the Minister. Among them, 19 tree parks were already opened to public and works on another four tree parks were under progress.
B Venkatratnam, a resident of Vidhya Nagar in Suryapet, said a visit to the Pattana Pragathi Vanam was indeed rejuvenating, and gives a feeling of having visited a forest area. “The municipal officials have also provided cement chairs for people to relax in the Vanam,” he added.
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