Chamarajanagara: We have seen people selling their properties to meet medical expenses, marriages and education of children. But here is a tree lover who sold his only property to plant saplings, and its maintenance.
C. M. Venkatesh, a Chartered Accountant by profession, and a native of Chamarajanagara Town was fond of saplings, and trees since childhood. It was in 2016 that the Public Works Department Authorities cut thousands of trees for widening of road. Venkatesh was very much pained as the whole town became barren after widening of road.
Then he decided to plant saplings to make the town as earlier. Everyday he started planting 10-15 saplings besides road. He also watered the saplings daily by constructing tree guards. He engaged labourers for watering and planting. Sometimes the planting of saplings goes upto 100. He buys saplings from Mysuru and other
places.
Since last five years he has planted more than 8000 trees in town and outskirts. The trees include Honge, Bevu, Hebbevu, Devagana, Akashamallige, Basavanapada and other species. Now the trees have become 5-10 feet tall at Sampige Road, Chamarajanagara Jodi Road, Deviation Road, Court Road, Sampi Road, Railway Station Road, District Ambedkar Stadium, and Central College among others.
Many people are watering the saplings planted near their houses and even providingnplants to Venkatesh on the occassion of children’s birthday and marriages. During summer Venkatesh arranges tanker to water the plants.
For his social service he has spent lakhs of rupees of his own. Last month he sold his only house for Rs. 22 lakh and repaid loans, thus shifting to rented house.
Venkatesh’s wife Jayalakshmi says her husband has not sold the house due to any bad deeds but for the welfare of society and added that she is proud of her husband.
Speaking to News Karnataka, Venkatesh said that he started planting trees during birthdays of Dr. Rajkumar, Dr. Vishnuvardhan , Dr. S. P. Balasubramanyam and other personalities. Then he started planting daily. He adds that he has no regret or grief for selling his property but has self satisfaction that he sold the house for a noble cause. He said he can construct the house in future but cannot plant trees once time has elapsed. Nature conservation is a huge responsibility, he stressed.
