BHUBANESWAR: Amid growing concern over paucity of quality timber for construction of chariots of the Trinity for Rath Yatra in Puri, Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA) University and NGO Prerna have taken up a project to ensure State-wide plantation of saplings.
The project, christened ‘Jagannath Batika’, was flagged off by Puri King Dibyasingha Deb on Institute of Technical Education and Research campus here on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Puri King said it was high time people realised that existence of mankind was dependent on survival of trees.
Referring to Jagannath Bana Prakalpa launched by the State Government a few years ago to ensure supply of timber for the Jagannath temple in Puri, he said, “Though the project started off well, we have no idea what happened thereafter.”
Deb said the initiative, in its long run, will facilitate unhindered flow of timber required for daily rituals at the Twelfth century shrine.
Among others, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, DGP Sanjeev Marik, Mahanayak, Chhatisha Nijog, Jagannath temple Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, Nalco CMD Anshuman Das and Vice-Chancellor, SOA University, Amit Banerjee were present.