World Environment Day 2020: Citizens seek biodiversity zone tag for Himayat Baugh, Aurangabad’s 17th century garden

As the world observes surroundings day, residents in Aurangabad metropolis of Maharashtra are pushing for biodiversity zone tag for a 17th century backyard that’s dwelling to greater than 10,000 timber and 82 species of birds.

Called Himayat Baugh, the sprawling backyard is among the few inexperienced zones left in Aurangabad, an industrial hub in central Maharashtra, and is situated in coronary heart of town.

Of late, the backyard has fallen prey to encroachments and is shrinking in dimension daily, mentioned residents who’ve launched a marketing campaign to declare it a biodiversity zone to reserve it from additional ruination.

Members of the Himayat Baugh Conservation Action Committee (HBCAC) are spearheading the marketing campaign to guard and protect the backyard.

A member of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) tree committee, Dr Kishor Pathak, mentioned, “This is an oxygen hub of Aurangabad. There were 350 peacocks in this area six years ago, now the number is merely 20.

“Every six months we see a new encroachment here.

There are 82 types of birds, 45 types of butterflies, eight types of snakes, 80 types of flies residing here.” Pathak expressed concern over encroachments across the backyard.

“Footfalls of mischievous people have brought this beauty in danger. A huge number of trees have crossed a life of 200 years here and every tree is capable of being a heritage,” Pathak mentioned.

Taking to PTI, Chandrashekhar Borde, a member of HBCAC, expressed concern over unlawful slicing of timber within the backyard.

“The baugh has more than 10,000 trees and the place is centrally located in Aurangabad city. Illegal tree cutting by people of neighboring areas has made the garden sparse and this has hampered the fauna here,” Borde mentioned.

Trees shouldn’t solely be conserved right here however plantation ought to be undertaken by means of long-term planning, the HBCAC member mentioned.

An in depth illustration on this regard was despatched to Maharashtra Chief Ministers workplace in 2016, Borde mentioned.

Advocate Swapnil Joshi, a member of the panel, mentioned, “This place has grasslands, swamps which act as homes for many birds. It is qualified for becoming a biodiversity zone in accordance with the Biodiversity Act, 2001.

The committee had asked the AMC to initiate steps to protect the garden and not to construct any new establishment there, but nothing much has happened, Joshi said.

Some pending contracts between the AMC and owner of the garden – the Vasantrao Naik Agriculture University of Parbhani – if completed can save much of the place, Joshi said.

Tejaswini Aphale, a history researcher who recently surveyed the garden, said the place holds historical importance.

She said, “The underground hall in this baugh with huge water tanks on two sides is a unique structure with ‘barradari’ (buildings) at both ends. There is fortification and bastions around this with a beautiful structure with a Mughal-style roof.

“Shakkar Bawdi (well with sweet water) is another unique structure here. These structures are disturbed by tremendous unplanned interventions. This treasure can still be conserved. It has tourist potential too,” Aphale mentioned.

When contacted, Dr Ashok Dhawan, Vice-Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Agriculture University, mentioned, “This place certainly has potential to become a biodiversity zone. Flora and fauna here are rare too.” Dhawan recognised the significance of the backyard and pledged to guard it.

“We face problems from mischievous people and encroachers. We are short on manpower… still we try to maintain the garden.

“We are ready to conserve the garden and historical monuments without compromising on our basic aim of fruit research and ownership rights,” Dhawan mentioned.

(This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Only the headline has been modified. )

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