On a Mission to Green hills

Hyderabad: Just before the onset of monsoon every year, N K Raju seems to be a man in a hurry. Collecting a tonne of seeds of fruit bearing and non-fruit bearing trees from friends and for parcels to arrive from Chikkaballapura take most of his time.

A team comprising 10-15 make a trip to nearby hills in Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts in a van and sprinkle seeds of tamarind, banyan, mango, neem, bael, jackfruit and other species for a day. Last year, Raju and his team visited Thimmayapalli hills. “This year we are planning to go to Ankireddypalli,” says Raju. In the past the team visited Bhongir and Yadigirigutta to seed the hills.

Throughout the year, Raju distributes free saplings to people. A resident of Eashwaripuri near Sainikpuri in Secunderabad, he has been promoting the green cause for the past 11 years. Born and brought up in an agricultural family in Siddamapuram village in West Godavari district, Raju came to Hyderabad in 1978 and joined ECIL.

He says, “Growing up amidst greenery has had a profound influence and the knowledge passed down by my grandfather on the benefits of trees and their medicinal value has been immense.” He encourages people not to throw away the seeds from fruits and goes about collecting them from fruit vendors as well. “Many fruit sellers set aside fruits that are usually thrown away and I collect them when I return home after office.”

There have been some years when he spent Rs 50,000 of his own money in procuring seeds and growing saplings for distribution. “My family too has been supportive for the cause.” Did he not have a problem with people taking saplings but not looking after them? I learnt that people are more interested in fruit bearing trees and are eager to grow the maredu (bael) as it is considered to be holy and beneficial.

This tree is mostly planted near temples. Also throwing light on the myth that the neem tree lets out maximum oxygen, he says, “It has been scientifically proven that it is the bael tree that emits maximum oxygen.” He also shares fascinating facts such as- the success rate for fruit bearing trees is 80 per cent as compared to non-fruit bearing trees.

The jackfruit has 90 per cent success rate he says. When asked about the success of seeding the hills, Raju says that in the last two years there has not been a great impact, but is hopeful as the nation as a whole and Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in particular are expecting an above normal rainfall. Till date, Raju has distributed close to 10 lakh saplings and more than 8 tonnes of seeds have been sprinkled on the hills.

Inspired by the late Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist and the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan, Raju’s dream is to bring together green activists of the state onto a single platform and also write a book. That is a long term plan, but for now all his energies are directed to head to the hills.

By T P Venu