Dehradun, June 26
Chinar, Bhojpatra, Indian Horse Chestnut, St Thomas Bean, Ficus Krishnae, Ginkgo Biloba, Banj Oak, Deodar …the list of trees and climbers in unending. Finding all these within the confines of one garden looks impossible, except if one visits the Forest Research Institute’s Botanical Garden where authorities have come up with a man-made forest comprising all these species.

As one treads down the garden, the strangulating giant climber Entada Parsaetha, commonly known as St Thomas Bean, can be found all over. A native of northeast and Peninsular India, this climber is spread a long distance inside the park.

The Botanical Garden has some of the finest species of trees. The natural trails that pass through the garden are also a delight— Dr SS Negi, Director, FRI

According to Anup Chandra, scientist at the Institute’s Botany Division, Entada climber can cover a distance of as much as four kilometers.Similarly, Chinar, the pride of Kashmir, can also be found inside the garden. Even former Union Minister Saifudin Soz in one his visits to Forest Research Institute was surprised to find a Chinar tree at the garden.

Ficus Krishnae, another specie found here, is associated with Lord Krishna as he ate butter on its cup-shaped leaves. Further, used for writing manuscripts during the Vedic age, the giant Bojpatra (Betula utilies) tree also stands tall in one of the corners of the garden.

The Maiden Hair Tree, scientifically known as Ginkgo Biloba, is a delight for any botany student by virtue of it being a living fossil is also found inside the park. This species of tree, which is native to China and Japan, has undergone no changes since its evolution and thus proves to be an excellent case of study for those interested in botany.

The Thorn tree, scientifically identified as Gleditria Assamica, has sharp thick thorns in the lower area of its trunk that act as a fence to ward-off wild animals. Then there is the Elephant Apple (Dillenia Indica) whose ball-shaped fruit is utilised by pachyderms inside the forests for playing.

There is also a variety of Eucalyptus with pink trunk.

Another tree found here is the Indian Horse Chest nut (Aesculus assamica), which has a big canopy and provides the much-needed shade to visitors during summers.

Notably, it is at this garden that the concept of “Green Theatre” has been used. Brainchild of Dr Sas Biswas, scientist and head of Botany Division, the one of its kinds “Green Theatre is being utilised by both researchers and students of local colleges and schools.

Describing the Botanical Garden as a living heritage of the country, Director Forest Research Institute Dr SS Negi said the garden stood as excellent means to gain knowledge on various aspects of biodiversity and forest genetic resource.

“It has some of finest repositories and the natural trails that pass through the garden are a delight for any visitors,” he said.

For students of biology and environment, the garden is an excellent place for study of various aspects of tree morphology, phenology, regeneration and tree architecture.

The Botanical Garden can boast of over 400 species of trees with many exotic 
varieties from Australia, South America, Africa, China 
and Japan.

Dehradun, June 26
After a ban on grazing in 2004, scared groves - "Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals" (meadows) in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand now face a new threat - Drynaria Mallis popularly known as 'Parjeeve Bail'. This fern has taken over the groves, which has led to drying up of Banj, Burash, Thunar and Kharsu trees. Even the premier forest research institute of the country - The Forest Research Institute - after conducting series of inspections had expressed concern over spread of fern and had recommended its eradication.

On the contrary, the Uttarakhand forest department research wing had termed Drynaria Mallis as beneficial to trees and ruled out that its roots hurt the trees in any manner. Describing it as "Bird Nest Fern", State Forest Research Division claimed that uprooting of this fern could be detrimental to the trees in scared groves. In a letter, it has pointed out that the fern was instrumental in protecting the trees against any possible drying up.

"These ferns absorb rainwater for long which in turn is transferred to the tree, thus preventing the latter from drying up during summers," said Manoj Chandra, senior forest official in the letter. He held that the roots of the fern never penetrated the host tree and were in no way harmful. Chandra categorically held that any uprooting of the fern would amount to a forest crime. However, the pathology division of FRI that had sent a two-member team there some time back confirmed that Drynaria Mallis had spread on Banj, Burash, Moru, Walnut and Salex trees.

The team found that the fern had thickly spread on old and mature trees, while its presence was little less in Deodar, Kail and Rai trees. The FRI team had categorically held that Drynaria mallis was responsible for drying up of trees in "Ali Bedni Bagjee Bugyals".

"The fern does not allow new branches to come up, which leads to drying up of a tree," the FRI report confirmed.

Even though Uttarakhand Forest Department and FRI officials differ on the issue, for the "Bugyals" there is cause of alarm as the fern, also referred to as Tebiteeya, is fast-spreading across the Banj and Buransh trees.

"Prompt action is needed or it could be virtual death for these Bugyals, known for their pristine beauty," said Dayal Singh Patwal, president of Aali Bedni Bagjee Bugyal Sarakshan Samiti. Patwal was instrumental in imposition of a ban on contractual grazing in the "Bugyals" in 2004.

And after the contradictory reports, Patwal has now approached the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr RBS Rawat for prompt intervention in the matter. The latter has assured that the matter would be taken up on priority.

Ram Kumar Bhatia (third from left) and his son Gagan at the shop in IIT campus in Roorkee. A Tribune photograph

Roorkee, June 26
Small but very famous 'Bhatia Fast Food and Shakes Corner' is one of the most favourite places of IIT students and locals as well. This 40-year-old shop, which is located just opposite the 'Shatabdi Dwar' (Centenary Gate) of the Indian Institute of Technology, is still famous for its special bun-omelette and fried Maggie noodles as it used to be in past years among old students since its inception on 9 May, 1975.

This attributed to the fact that still a large number of old students, do not forget to visit their favourite Bhatia Fast Food while traversing the town. Among these special visitors (old students) many now hold top positions in administration and MNCs. "DIG (Brailley) Avinash Chandra, commissioner (Police) Sanjay Tyagi and Brig Amarjeet Singh, who had spent their student life here, still come to meet me and eat bun-omelette whenever they visit the town," said the proud Ram Kumar Bhatia.

One of the main reasons of the popularity of the shop was that it used to remain open for 24 hours. "For 20 years, it remained open for 24 hours. I seldom took breaks. Students love to come after midnight to have tea here," said Bhatia.

Though the time has changed, no changes can be seen in this eating corner, except its name, which earlier was 'Bhatia Tea Corner'. "I changed the name because now a days students prefer shakes to tea," said Gagan.