NGT chairperson visits Indian Botanical Garden, joins plantation drive
NGT Chairperson Takes Part in Tree Plantation at Indian Botanic Garden
Indiadailyupdate.com – National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava visited the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in Howrah on Saturday, joining a tree plantation programme that focused attention on biodiversity protection and ecological restoration.
The event was held in the garden’s Endemic and Threatened Plant Section under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and formed part of the “Swachhata Hi Seva 2026” initiative. The programme brought environmental conservation into focus at one of eastern India’s most important botanical spaces.
Focus on rare and native species
By holding the plantation activity in an area devoted to threatened and endemic plants, the programme highlighted the need to protect species that may be limited to particular regions or face increasing pressure in their natural habitats. Conservation of such plants is closely linked to the larger health of ecosystems, as native vegetation supports a range of ecological relationships and helps preserve botanical diversity.
The initiative also carried a broader message about the role of tree planting in restoring green cover and encouraging long-term stewardship of natural resources. Plantations can serve as a visible public reminder that environmental protection depends not only on institutions but also on participation by communities and individuals.
Justice Shrivastava was joined by senior officials of the National Green Tribunal. Registrar Deepto Ghosh, Deputy Registrar Tanushree Dutta and Assistant Registrar Yash Kumar Singh attended the programme at the historic garden.
A major botanical landmark beside the Hooghly
Located along the Hooghly River, the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden extends across about 273 acres. It contains more than 12,000 living plants and is recognised for the breadth of its collection, which includes rare orchids, palms, giant Amazon water lilies, as well as endemic and threatened species.
The garden provides a setting where scientific conservation, public education and recreation meet. Its collections offer visitors an opportunity to see plant varieties that may be unfamiliar outside specialised botanical institutions, while also illustrating why protected spaces remain important for preserving plant life.
Among its best-known features is the Great Banyan Tree, a longstanding attraction within the garden. Its canopy stretches across nearly five acres, creating the impression of a small forest rather than a single tree. The scale of the banyan has made it a prominent symbol of the garden and an example of the remarkable forms that plant life can take over time.
The visit drew attention to the garden’s value not simply as a scenic destination but as a living repository of plant diversity. Maintaining such spaces has importance for conservation because they can safeguard species, support botanical knowledge and help the public understand the richness of India’s natural heritage.
Campaign links personal tribute with environmental action
The “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign invites people to plant trees in honour of their mothers. The idea connects a personal gesture of remembrance and gratitude with a practical environmental activity, encouraging people to see afforestation as a shared civic responsibility.
Tree planting initiatives are often most meaningful when they are tied to care for native species, suitable planting locations and continuing maintenance. The emphasis on the Endemic and Threatened Plant Section at the Indian Botanic Garden brought those conservation concerns to the forefront, placing the activity within a site dedicated to protecting significant plant collections.
The programme also aligned with the goals of “Swachhata Hi Seva 2026,” which promotes public engagement around cleanliness, environmental awareness and responsible care for shared spaces. In a botanical garden, that message naturally extends to protecting vegetation, reducing harm to habitats and respecting the ecological importance of public green areas.
Role of the National Green Tribunal
The National Green Tribunal is a judicial body that handles matters involving environmental protection, forest conservation, natural resources and the enforcement of environmental legal rights. Its work addresses issues that affect the relationship between development, public welfare and ecological safeguards.
The Chairperson’s participation in the plantation programme underscored the connection between environmental law and conservation in practice. Legal frameworks can help establish accountability and protect natural resources, while public initiatives can encourage wider awareness of the need to conserve them.
For visitors and residents in the Kolkata region, the Indian Botanic Garden remains a reminder that biodiversity can be experienced directly within an urban setting. Its extensive grounds, specialised plant sections and landmark banyan tree show the value of preserving landscapes where rare, native and unusual plant species can continue to be cared for.
The plantation drive conveyed a call for collective action to protect biodiversity and sustain India’s botanical heritage for future generations. By bringing together a national environmental institution and a historic garden, the event reinforced the idea that conservation requires continued attention, public participation and respect for the natural world.
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