A tree ambulance service to care for ailing plants has rolled out in Cooch Behar.
Paryabaran Sanrakshan, a nature lover organisation based in the town, said the ambulance service will help nurture plants across the town. Also, the representatives of the NGO claimed that the initiative is first-of-its kind in north Bengal.
Dyutiman Bhattacharya, the superintendent of police of Cooch Behar district, inaugurated the ambulance service on Sunday evening. “We have heard about such ambulance services for the plants in developed countries. We must appreciate the NGO for launching such a service in Cooch Behar town,” the SP said.
Benoy Das, a representative of the NGO, said he first learnt about the existence of the ambulance for plants at Indore in Madhya Pradesh in 2004. Since then he wanted to implement the idea at Cooch Behar.
“I first came to know about this service during my stay in Indore about two decades back. Since then, I dreamt of launching a similar service in Cooch Behar,” said Das, also an employee of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), posted at the royal palace in Cooch Behar. He was posted in Indore from 2004 to 2009.
Das mentioned that it took a couple of months to modify the van in a local workshop. “The ambulance will have 26 different tools that include a water sprinkler and a mini excavator among other plantation tools. A cell phone number is also written on the van, so that anybody can contact to avail the service,” he added.
“There are instances when people set fire to the wastes below the plants. If the people contact us on the given number, we can rush to the spot and prevent it promptly. Apart from that, if we receive any information about any plant that is affected by fungal infection, immediate measures can be taken for its cure. We have decided to restrict our service within the town to start with,” the ASI employee added.
Das is well known for his love for plants. He has planted around 10,000 plants across the town and its adjacent areas so far. These afforestation programmes has covered over 200 acres in the last 10 years.
