Odisha’s ‘Greenman’ Sudhir Rout To Take Up Afforestation In 13 More Bald Hills In Ganjam Dist

Berhampur: Odisha’s ‘Greenman’ Sudhir Rout, who has already turned 13 bald hills of Ganjam into greenery in the last six years, plans to take up 7 more hills in Ganjam district this year.

Rout, who did his post-graduation in Physics from Khallikote College Berhampur in 1985 and is running coaching centre ‘Aryabhatta’ for the brilliant minds, is former principal of Nalanda Residential College, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The 61-year-old academician started his green mission from his village Madhabandha under Chikiti block in 2007.

Most of the hills were bald and barren which was rejected by the Forest Department as degraded soil. Aryabhatt Foundation nourished these 13 bald hills including Rangamatia Pahada (hills) at Ramchandrapalli in Chikiti block during 2017. Now, those ‘barren’ hills have turned into lush green cover.

“This year, we plan to take up Russidalli Pahad near Chikiti, four hills between Bhuasuni near Mahuri Kalua and Bankeswari, hill adjacent to Changudidei near Digapahandi, one hill in Pakidi and some hillocks like Baripada, Sahaspur and Ramachandi,” said Sudhir.

“We are also planning to plant trees in Chikiti, Tamana, Berhampur city and some schools, colleges and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas (OAV),” he added.

On their plan on next green venture, Sudhir said they were planning to sow 7 lakh seeds through seed balls in inaccessible areas of the hills and 5 to 6 lakh seeds to be sown on hoeing. “We will begin preparation of seed balls from May 19. The plantation by sowing and seed balls will be started after June 10 just before the onset of monsoon in this region. Sapling plantation will be carried out by mid-July,” he said.

The 13 bald hills in Ganjam taken up earlier include Balakumari, Podapadar, Bhaludhimbirai, Mahurikalua, Bhuasuni, Changudidei, Pakidi, Karakhola near Hinjilicut, Taratarini, Sahaspur, Bhaliagada Hill near Adapada. Some of the hills like Ramachandra Palli, Bhuasuni and Pakidi have shown very good results with Ramchandrapalli being the best with around 50,000 trees. Balakumari, where mostly bamboo saplings were used, has also shown good results.

Aryabhatta Foundation has also taken up two village forests including the one near Pitatali by planting 10,000 trees. The other one near Tamana has around 5,000 trees. Moreover, a dozen mini-forests in 3 OAVS, Parala Maharaj Engineering College, avenue plantation in Berhampur, Surla jn Chikiti road and other roads have also been included in its mission.

Sudhir launched the ‘Sabuja Rath’ in 2010 to create awareness among the public for plantation of trees, preservation of water, hazards of polythene and plastics through folk arts. He started the village forest concept in Pitatali panchayat, Madhabandha and Palasara covering 25 acre in 2016.