Meerut: For over a decade, two doctors from Baghpat have been doing more than healing patients—they've been encouraging those they treat to also heal the environment. Dr Anurag Mittal, a physician, and Dr Dinesh Bansal, a general surgeon, run a private hospital in Baraut, and have been handing out a sapling to each of their patients, asking for a written commitment in return to nurture the plant until it matures.
Their efforts have led to over one lakh saplings being planted in their area over the past decade. Now, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), recognising their contribution, has allowed them to conduct afforestation on an 11km-long green belt along the under-construction Delhi-Dehradun expressway. They are planning on planting around 10,000 saplings along the stretch.
The doctors said they are extremely enthused about the opportunity. "Human survival depends on Nature, yet we are its greatest disruptors. That's why we began giving every patient in our OPD a sapling to plant ," said Dr Bansal.
After learning that the doctors have to fund the entire project themselves, locals, including former patients, have offered to not only contribute saplings but also help nurture them for two years before handing them over to govt authorities for maintenance.
Pratibha Dimri, a former patient, said, "I visited the hospital five years ago after a dog bite and was given a sapling with proper documentation. Even after my treatment, the doctors' team would call to check on the plant's well-being. Who does that these days? I've already asked my friends to join the plantation drive."
Another Baraut resident, Anuj Jain, said, "I visited them after dislocating my ankle in 2021 and saw their selfless dedication to the environment firsthand. That commitment drew me to their cause, and I'll definitely be part of this campaign."
NHAI has okayed 5.5km on each side of the expressway as a ‘greenbelt area' for the doctors' NGO, Harit Praan Trust, to develop.
Manish Mittal, chief forest conservator of Mirzapur and former divisional forest officer of Baghpat, said, "Handing over the responsibility of planting and caring for saplings to patients has worked wonders in the district. It's heartening to see govt agencies now roping them in to plant trees along the expressway."
Sandeep Rai is a veteran journalist with two decades of experienc...
Read MoreSandeep Rai is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in the reporting field. He heads the Western Uttar Pradesh bureau, managing Meerut, Bareilly & Agra circles. His areas of interest are wildlife, politics and special reportage.
Read Less