A sapling on the PMCH campus. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Sept. 12: The Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) administration appears keen to make its campus green. After planting several saplings as part of its green drive, it has formed a committee for their safety. The panel would also keep an eye on the older trees on the health hub premises.

PMCH principal Dr N.P. Yadav told The Telegraph that a five-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr Amarkant Jha Amar, associate professor, dermatology department, was recently constituted. “Two senior doctors from the physiology department, hospital manager Alok Ranjan and an assistant-level employee are the other members of the panel. They will now be responsible for the safety of all the trees on the campus,” Dr Yadav said.

The principal said the move was initiated after several government agencies working on the college premises chopped trees. “Agencies like public works department, public health engineering department and electricity department cut trees without taking our permission if they pose obstruction to their work. But we think it is our duty to safeguard the trees on the campus,” Yadav said.

Any person or agency will now have to take permission from the committee before cutting a tree or its branches. FIRs under the provisions of the Forest Act would be lodged against people found guilty of disturbing trees without permission.

The principal said the committee would also generate revenues to procure resources for carrying out extensive plantation on the college premises.

“According to the action plan, we will plant 101 trees across the campus in the next six months. They will be all shade trees and will be planted near the college playground, wards, principal’s office and other suitable areas. We planted eight Saraca Asoka trees and seven mango trees near the playground on August 15. Last week, five more saplings were planted,” Dr Yadav said.

Sources said Asoka trees were chosen for plantation on the PMCH premises because they are attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Its flowers are fragrant and have average water needs.

“Mango trees are also known for shade. We want to fill the campus with shade trees so that people coming to PMCH have shade all over. Within next two weeks, we will plant 10-15 more saplings in areas around the principal’s office,” said a member of the committee.

Dr Yadav added that the trees would be planted in a lot of 20-25 each every two months. “We are getting these trees from a nursery in Hajipur. It is not only important to plant trees but we also have to ensure that they survive,” he said.