Hojai, June 29 — A roadside plantation drive launched by the Khagrijan Development Block on Monday will line the highway between Nagaon and the Batadrava Thaan with native trees, creating a green corridor to improve the journey to one of Assam’s most revered pilgrimage sites. The scheme aims to plant species such as krishnachura, radhasura, nahar and azar along both sides of the road to form a natural canopy for devotees and other travellers.
Local MLA Rupak Sharma inaugurated the drive on Monday, June 29, saying the effort goes beyond routine tree-planting. “Every year, thousands of devotees and visitors travel to Batadrava Thaan. It is our responsibility to ensure that they experience not only the spiritual significance of the place but also the serenity and beauty of nature throughout their journey,” he said.
Sharma urged the plantation to become a people’s movement rather than a government-only programme, adding that success depends on long-term care. “A plantation drive does not end with planting a sapling. The real success lies in protecting every tree. I urge every citizen to treat these saplings like their own children so that future generations inherit a greener and healthier Assam,” he said.
District Commissioner Devasish Sharma highlighted the wider environmental purpose, stressing large-scale afforestation as a tool to combat climate change and rising temperatures. “Plantation programmes like this are no longer optional; they are essential,” he said.
Officials say the choice of native species will aid groundwater recharge, increase carbon absorption and improve habitats for birds and other wildlife, while also enhancing the aesthetic and travel experience to Batadrava Thaan, the birthplace of Vaishnavite saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva.
The plantation comes amid broader state efforts to develop the shrine as a major spiritual and cultural destination. In May, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government is working to transform the Thaan into a globally recognised landmark inspired by the Mahapurush’s ideals. In December, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Rs 227-crore redeveloped Batadrava Thaan and said the BJP was “committed to making Assam free of illegal immigrants,” adding that the process of freeing the birthplace from encroachers had been completed.
Organisers say the roadside greening will both strengthen local ecology and offer a more pleasant, shaded route for the many pilgrims who visit Batadrava each year, provided the community sustains care for the newly planted trees.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/native-tree-plantation-drive-begins-along-nagaonbatadrava-thaan-road-1613655
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2026-06-29 20:31:00
