Dargah's unique pitch to boost lung spaces in hyderabad city

Shalibanda: Concerned over the increasing pollution, the Riyaz-e-Madina Islamic Centre (inside Dargah Hazrat Yahya Pasha) in Misrigunj near Shalibanda has decided to launch a plantation campaign online this Milad-un-Nabi.

The campaign is themed 'Jhaad Lagao Milad Manao' (Plant a tree, celebrate birth anniversary of Prophet). Maulana Dr Syed Mahmood Safiullah Hussaini Waqar Pasha, Grand son of Hazrat Yahya Pasha, will also be emphasising the issue during Milad Jalsa to be held on the Dargah premises on Saturday.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Niyamat Quadri of the centre said that as everyone is worried about the worrying levels of air pollution after the toxic air pollution engulfed the nation's capital, they have decided to launch the initiative to generate awareness among masses on the need to control pollution of environment, before it goes out of hand.

Since planting more and more trees is the only situation in bigger cities like Hyderabad, the tech-savvy team from this centre has decided to launch a campaign in this endeavour. "Even the teachings of Prophet Muhammad suggest that planting saplings would be accounted as a good deed. After thorough study of oxygen producing plants, we felt that it is the need of the hour that everyone plant a sapling to contain the hazard of global warming," he said.

Quadri who is a Unani doctor and completed his masters believes that the city's households, even if they do not have space in their houses, can grow small plants on their terrace. "We have identified several species of plants, which can be grown in pots. At least this can add to the oxygen little bit," he added.

The centre which started the online campaign in Urdu and English is expecting that youngsters in large numbers would take part in this, which would indirectly generate awareness and other religious institutions may follow suit. In the next few days, the organisers hope to provide green cover to entire Dargah and turn it into a lung space of the area, setting an example. Some of the youth have been sending selfies after planting saplings to the campaigners for the past few days.