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Bhubaneswar citizens up in arms over ‘concrete boom’ at Ekamra Kanan Botanical Garden
Concerned over the alleged environmental degradation at Bhubaneswar Ekamra Kanan, also known as the Regional Plant Resource Centre (RPRC) Botanical Garden, senior citizens and environmental advocates staged a peaceful protest outside its premises on Saturday.
The demonstrators accused authorities of destroying the natural ecosystem under the guise of development inside the prominent green zone of the capital city.
Concrete Over Canopy: Locals Decry Nature’s Loss
According to protestors, the last three years have seen repeated tree-cutting drives and the construction of concrete structures, including roads, within the garden premises. They argue that this not only threatens the biodiversity of the Ekamra RPRC but also permanently alters its natural aesthetic and ecological balance.
“The RPRC was once a haven of peace and biodiversity. Now it’s turning into a concrete jungle,” said one senior citizen at the protest.
Residents also claimed that several rare and medicinal plants have been uprooted during the process, diminishing the botanical importance of the garden.
Call for Conservation, Not Concrete
Former administrator Aravind Behera also lent his voice to the cause, criticising the unchecked expansion and urging authorities to focus on ecological preservation rather than urban-style beautification.
“Since the last three years, the park has been steadily losing its ecological importance. Walkways are being tiled with concrete, trees are cut down, and metal ones are being placed in their place in the name of beautification,” he stated.
The protest saw participation from various local stakeholders who stressed the urgent need to protect Bhubaneswar’s remaining green lungs. Organisers clarified that the demonstration was peaceful and aimed at drawing attention to the environmental cost of ill-planned development.