“The municipality was planning to plant just grass to create a green belt,” informs Rashil Palanchoke, one of the members, and continues, “So we decided to register ourselves as the ‘Batabaran Samrakhchhan Abhiyan Samuha Banepa Basi’ in order to get permission to plant trees from the municipality.”
After the approval, the first two weeks were spent conducting researches and planning for the plantation. “We had to pick the right kinds of trees to plant,” informs Palanchoke. “We decided on Asare and Karbir because they grow up to about 10-12 feet tall and also bear flowers.” The group started planting saplings this week and has already completed half the work, i.e., two kilometers, counting both sides of the road. They are being planted 12 to 14 feet apart from each other.
“We bought a total of 700 saplings and we have 150 extra just in case something happens,” explains Palanchoke. According to their research, the group expects 200 saplings to survive till next year. Each sapling that dies will be replaced by a new one. They have hired three gardeners from Banepa Nursery while the municipality has provided two more to take care of the saplings.
“We want to make sure that the saplings grow into trees, and we plan to work on it for the next five years,” states Palanchoke. Baskets are being built to protect the saplings as well. The group did not have money to start their project, and Punya Raj Shakya, one of the members, volunteered to pay for the initial costs while they raised funds. The group’s effort is being supported by Banepa locals; and many individuals, businesses and banks are donating money to the cause.
“We all are tree lovers,” answers Palanchoke when asked what motivated them to take upon such an inspiring initiative. “We don’t need to explain the importance of trees and their relationship to human beings.”
Palanchoke had taken up a similar project to plant 500 trees in Mata Tirtha 10 years ago with street and school children. He is modest and insists, “This is a combined effort and I’m not doing it alone.”
The group members of the Banepa tree plantation campaign are Bindo Bhailo, Minal Bhailo, Udayram Kayastha, Punya Raj Shakya, Akkal Man Kapali, Rashil Palanchoke, Pashupati Shrestha and Kanchan Napiph.
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