Ramesh, a 42-year-old resident of Chandagalu, has undertaken the Herculean task of converting Karighatta Hill, located in the reserve forest area near Srirangapatna, into a huge green patch.
Now hailed as a local hero, Ramesh, however, had to endure sniggers as well as scepticism from others. “People, including my family members, laughed at me for lifting water from the canal and carrying it to water the plants,” he says. “Some said I was behaving abnormally, while some others asked me to be careful of the burning sun, as I may suffer health issues. Now, things have changed. Many people voluntarily come forward and plant trees here.”
Among his ardent supporters now is his wife, Anupama. “I used to discourage him earlier, but over the years I have started to love to accompany him in my free time. I help him in writing slogans, and loading empty containers in the vehicle,” she says. “He motivates villagers to plant trees on special occasions, and give saplings instead of other gift items during functions.”
Ramesh has devised his own ways to employ the method of drip irrigation on the hill. He cuts the 20-litre water can, with its lid screwed on, into two parts, and drills holes in them to use them to water multiple saplings. He even makes use of 1-litre and 2-litre water bottles discarded by tourists for drip irrigation.
Besides planting saplings, he also cleans the surrounding areas so that growth of vegetation is stimulated. He grows plants with herbal and medicinal value, which increase the green cover, keep the place moist and boost the water table. Ramesh collects the saplings from the forest department, and maintains them for a year. Some of the saplings planted by him a few years ago are now fully-grown trees, towering to even 10-feet height.
Ramesh has also placed a small container on the hillside to feed birds.His daily routine began years ago as a bid to oppose the traditional practice among villagers in Srirangapatna to torch the forest near the hill every February. It was a part of their ritual, where they pray to Lord Sri Venkateswara for prosperity, and ask him to bless them with children, wealth and health. It’s because of this practice that the hill got its name, Karighatta (kari means black and ghatta means hill in Kannada).
“The blind belief has been, Neena Betta Suttu Kappu Maduthivi (We torch your hill and make it black),” says Ramesh, talking about how he decided to educate villagers and put an end to the practice. “I was deeply moved to see small animals, such as snakes, cats, squirrels and birds, getting burnt to ashes in the man-made forest fire in 2011. I first started planting trees and later decided to visit the villages and educate people about the importance of the forest. Later, I started asking them not to burn the forest area. I request them to make a small plot and perform their rituals without harming the jungle.”
The villagers now join forces with him in the initiative. “Ramesh is bringing together students, social activists and other like-minded people to plant saplings and educate others not to burn the forest,” says B Somnathpura, a village head. “Some of them are voluntarily joining him in his endeavour. For the last four years, he has been visiting the villages in January, making announcements on loudspeakers, asking people not to set the forest on fire, and educating them about the importance of trees,” he adds.
Ramesh also urges tourists to maintain cleanliness in the region and not to spoil it by throwing garbage. “My only aim is to continue planting the forest for the rest of my life and increase the greenery,”he says.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by K. Rathna / Express News Service / January 27th, 2019
