New herbal garden in Rashtrapati Nilayam is intended to preserve and promote medicinal plants
President Pratibha Patil inaugurated a herbal garden in the premises of the Rashtrapati Nilayam, at Bollarum in Secunderabad on Saturday. She planted a Kadamba sapling after inaugurating the garden.
The newly-created herbal garden is intended to create awareness about the rich heritage and diversity of medicinal plants, and to preserve and promote the medicinal values of various plants that grow in our surroundings whose properties are beneficial to human beings.
The herbal garden has 116 species of medicinal and aromatic plants, including Sarpgandha, Kalabandha, Citronella, Lemon Grass, Khus, Geranium, Coriander, Sandalwood, Tuber Rose, Jasmine, Kalmegh, Tulsi and Isabgol; which can be used to prepare natural cures for a variety of diseases. The garden is located in an area of about 7,000 sq m.
The herbal garden came into being with the team work of the CPWD and the AP State Medicinal Plants Board, while Rashtrapati Bhavan and National Medicinal Plants Board funded the project. The garden also has annuals, perennials, creepers and shrubs.
In addition to this, several measures have been taken for the conservation of rain water in Rashtrapati Nilayam during the last 2 years, to improve ground water sustainability.
A percolation pond, made with the available stones, has been developed, where the rain water gets collected and then percolates into the subsoil. 3 rainwater harvesting pits have been made for storage and percolation to the ground via filter media. The rain water that used to flow out of the Nilayam premises is now collected and conserved, resulting in a substantial rise of ground water levels.
The Rashtrapati Nilayam now has about 4,500 different types of fruit plants, including Mango, Chikoo, Pomegranate, Guava, Amla and Coconut; in an area of about 35 acres. Green lawns and areas with ornamental shrubs and a variety of flowering plants, have also come up in an area of about 5 acres.
New water sources like borewells have been developed, and existing open wells have been redeveloped for the purpose of irrigation. For efficient irrigation, the drip irrigation system will be implemented soon.
Courtesy: INN