A new park in Nava Raipur is putting community participation in tree care at the centre of its public purpose. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Park was inaugurated in Sector 16 of Nava Raipur Atal Nagar on November 3 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai present.
The Chhattisgarh government’s announcement says more than 2,500 peepal saplings and over 500 saplings of other local species have been planted at the site. It describes the park as part of efforts to develop Nava Raipur as a greener city.
The project is linked to the People for Peepal campaign, which aims to involve residents beyond the initial act of planting. The government says the emphasis includes protecting plants and regularly caring for them, using the tree’s cultural significance to encourage participation.
Shah also planted a peepal sapling during the inauguration. The state presents the park as a centre for conservation and community involvement. Its announcement does not specify public opening hours, entry charges or a sign-up process for residents who want to take part in tree-care activities.
Illustrative archive photograph of a peepal tree, January 2007, not the new Nava Raipur park. Photo: Dinesh Valke, CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized for display.
