Botanical garden turns grazing land at GU
Though there are nearly 400 students in botany dept, the varsity has failed to provide them with a garden for study and research purposes
Yogesh Avasthi
Conduct research, conserve plants
Yogesh Patel, researcher at GU, said, “The garden could be developed for research and conservation of rare as well as native plants. Students can conduct practicals here instead of going to other gardens. It can be used to educate children about medicinal values of plants and the family they belong tof.”
“We desperately need a fully functional garden,” averred Yogesh Jasraj, head of the botany department. He added, “Five years ago, we hired an expert who drew up a Rs 28-lakh proposal to renovate the existing garden. The expert divided the garden into four parts to house medicinal, aquatic, cacti-xerophytic (drought-resistant) and general plants. It also included a track for morning walkers and two ponds to beautify the place. To prevent waterlogging, the expert proposed to raise the height of the garden.”
Seeking anonymity, a botany teacher said, “The authorities are not interested in solving any of our problems. Outsiders come and steal iron grilles protecting the garden in spite of the presence of security guards. Several peacocks would roam in the garden earlier. Due to lack of fencing, however, dogs would hunt them. Today, one can hardly spot a peacock here. Due to lack of maintenance, the ponds here have turned to slush pits.
“The varsity talks of introducing climate change courses and implementing eco-friendly measures even as it turns a blind eye to its own botanical and ecological wealth. The university planted some saplings near the pharmacy department and former vice chancellor Parimal Trivedi even christened it ‘Swarnim Van’. A couple of months later, almost 80 per cent of the plantation was stolen by outsiders.”
Grant vanished
Syndicate member Manish Doshi alleged, “Some years ago, the UGC had allotted around Rs 40 lakh to develop the garden. Today, there is no account of where the money went. I sought an inquiry into the matter but received no reply. Crores have been spent on constructing useless buildings. Had this money been spent on research, it would have attracted bright students and garnered fame for the university.”
When contacted, incharge Vice Chancellor Mukul Shah said, “I have just taken charge and know nothing of the matter. I will look into the issue.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, July 04, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=3&contentid=20120704201207040217378785e589f81)
BOTANICAL OR ZOOLOGICAL? Cows and buffaloes can be seen at this garden
Cows and buffaloes lazily graze on this lush plot. It is not one of the state’s fast-disappearing gauchar land, but Gujarat University’s botanical garden where these bovines have gained easy entry to. Over the past few years, the varsity spent crores constructing new buildings which now lie defunct. However, authorities turned a blind eye to this garden which could have been a rich resource of material for botany students. This, despite the fact that there are nearly 400 students in post-graduate and certificate courses offered by botany department.
The current garden does not have any notable plants or trees. There is no boundary wall to keep the animals out. Buildings have come around this ground, leading to waterlogging. This problem is compounded during monsoon when rainwater from the Physical Research Laboratory collects here. It takes 3-4 months for the water to evaporate, damaging the roots of existing shrubs and causing it to die. Conduct research, conserve plants
Yogesh Patel, researcher at GU, said, “The garden could be developed for research and conservation of rare as well as native plants. Students can conduct practicals here instead of going to other gardens. It can be used to educate children about medicinal values of plants and the family they belong tof.”
“We desperately need a fully functional garden,” averred Yogesh Jasraj, head of the botany department. He added, “Five years ago, we hired an expert who drew up a Rs 28-lakh proposal to renovate the existing garden. The expert divided the garden into four parts to house medicinal, aquatic, cacti-xerophytic (drought-resistant) and general plants. It also included a track for morning walkers and two ponds to beautify the place. To prevent waterlogging, the expert proposed to raise the height of the garden.”
Seeking anonymity, a botany teacher said, “The authorities are not interested in solving any of our problems. Outsiders come and steal iron grilles protecting the garden in spite of the presence of security guards. Several peacocks would roam in the garden earlier. Due to lack of fencing, however, dogs would hunt them. Today, one can hardly spot a peacock here. Due to lack of maintenance, the ponds here have turned to slush pits.
“The varsity talks of introducing climate change courses and implementing eco-friendly measures even as it turns a blind eye to its own botanical and ecological wealth. The university planted some saplings near the pharmacy department and former vice chancellor Parimal Trivedi even christened it ‘Swarnim Van’. A couple of months later, almost 80 per cent of the plantation was stolen by outsiders.”
Grant vanished
Syndicate member Manish Doshi alleged, “Some years ago, the UGC had allotted around Rs 40 lakh to develop the garden. Today, there is no account of where the money went. I sought an inquiry into the matter but received no reply. Crores have been spent on constructing useless buildings. Had this money been spent on research, it would have attracted bright students and garnered fame for the university.”
When contacted, incharge Vice Chancellor Mukul Shah said, “I have just taken charge and know nothing of the matter. I will look into the issue.”
