 |
| A.K. Boruwa releases Vrikshyavaidyam at the Assam Engineering Institute ground in Chandmari on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections |
Nov. 18: Guwahati Refinery todayreleased a book documenting 74 species of plants, trees, shrubs and creepers, which are found in its vicinity, to create awareness on their medicinal values.
The book, Vrikshyavaidyam, was compiled with the help of Saranga Patgiri and D. Bora, two lecturers of the Cotton College botany department and describes the nature and virtues of the plants.
The director of Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (Astec), A.K. Boruwa, released the book today at Prayukti@Prag, a technology exhibition being held at Assam Engineering Institute ground in Chandmari.
The executive director of the refinery, G. Bhanumurthy, said he hoped that the book would help preserve these valuable plants. The book has been released as part of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)-owned refinery’s commitment to protect and preserve the environment. “It is Indian Oil’s mission to help enrich the quality of life of the community and preserve ecological balance,” he said.
Addressing the function, Gauhati University head of department of botany S.K. Borthakur said, “The book will be significant from two points of view. It will generate awareness about the phyto-diversity of the refinery complex and will also help bring about a change in the basic attitude towards nature by identifying trees and herbs, which we encounter everyday.”
“Extensive tree plantation has been a regular activity of Guwahati Refinery. Various species of trees like eucalyptus, Delonix regia, Magnifera indica and teak were planted around the refinery,” a spokesperson for the refinery said.
According to him, 53,600 saplings have been planted so far, including 12,500 saplings under Seuj Prakalpa, a plantation programme launched by the government. “Such measures have been taken to ensure that industrialisation goes hand in hand with nature,” he added.
In 1993, the refinery had built Sanjeevani Udyan to preserve selected plants.
