Udupi: A majestically grown banyan tree, which was uprooted due to torrential rains at the old DC’s office premises in Udupi about 16 days ago was replanted on Monday, August 21.
The thoughtful task of replanting the banyan tree took place because of MIT Manipal Director Dr G K Prabhu, who always wanted to have a banyan tree on MIT campus. Following his initiative the massive tree was first shifted from Udupi to Manipal and then planted on MIT campus.
Researcher and Environmentalist Prof. Balakrishna Maddodi and Rotary Club Udyavara did all that they can to save this century old banyan tree.
With the help of Clifford Lobo, RFO of Department of Forest, all the necessary procedures were completed and the tree was trimmed and transported to the campus using cranes and other heavy movers. Rotary Assistant Governor of the Zone and Raghavendra Holla Assistant Director of Development, MIT, Manipal, Tejaswer Rao Rotarian and others were present.
It may be recalled that several years ago, one such attempts of replanting a banyan tree was done in Mangaluru as well. An old banyan tree along Mannagudda road was all set to be uprooted by the authorities to make way for widening of the road when activists like Vidya Dinker and Prabha Kudva came together to save the tree. Experts from Bengaluru were brought in and the tree was lifted from its original spot and was replanted near Sanghaniketan. Though the tree had started budding in its new location, it died after few years.
