Ranchi: Long before urban greenery became a buzzword, Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) professor B K Agrawal had turned plantation drives into a personal mission.Over the years, Agrawal has planted and nurtured hundreds of trees across the BAU campus, Kanke, Kadru and other parts of the city, transforming barren patches into green spaces. What began as a childhood passion has gradually grown into a community effort, drawing support from residents, colleagues and students.Agrawal, dean of students’ welfare in BAU, began his journey as a student by planting a peepal sapling near his home in Old AG Colony, Kadru. After the tree matured, he approached the forest department, which gave him 150 saplings for the locality. The peepal tree is now a site where women perform ‘Savitri Vrata’ rituals, while the other saplings have grown into 30-40ft trees, creating a green belt.In one unusual conservation effort, Agrawal rejoined a trunk that had snapped during a storm to the main tree. It revived and continued to grow, drawing a visit from then forest department secretary M P Singh.After joining BAU in 1989, Agrawal was posted at Darsai in West Singhbhum. With support from then director K D Singh, he planted saplings along roads and named them after senior officials to encourage their upkeep.Around 12 years ago, after buying land in Bank Colony, Chiroundi, he formed a committee of eight to 10 residents and led the planting of 400 saplings, including fruit-bearing species to attract birds. As dean, he also motivated students to plant nearly 4,000 saplings on the BAU campus, about 2,000 of which have matured.At his residence in Bukru, he planted 98 trees and spent nearly Rs 2.5 lakh on protective guards.“Ranchi needs an awareness campaign on planting and nurturing trees. Around 2 lakh trees can be planted in urban areas. The forest department must ensure saplings are cared for until they mature,” Agrawal said.Bank Colony resident Chandra Bhushan Verma said Agrawal helped turn a barren area green and used his contacts with the forest department to procure saplings. “He has set an example for our locality,” Verma said.
