Telangana MP Announces 2 Crore for Revamping an 800 Yr Old Banyan Tree

TELANGANA: Nature provides us with everything, it is time we give back something to Nature. We hear many tall talks about the conservation of nature but very little is done on this front. 

Telangana Rajya Sabha MP Joginapally Santhosh Kumar has come out as an exception to this and has announced Rs 2 crore for the preservation of an 800-year-old banyan tree which is known as "Pillalamarri". 

Santosh Kumar announced this amount from his MPLAD fund. The MPLAD fund provides the Members of Parliament with 5 crore rupees every year for the development of their area. 

Santosh Kumar while announcing the fund said that the tree has a great historical connection to the area and its people and it is our conscious duty to preserve it. 

"Pillalamarri" as it is known in Mahbubnagar where it is situated is spread over an area of 3 acres is dated back to 1200 AD. 

In the Telugu language "pillalu" means children and "marri" means a banyan tree. Hence, Pillalamarri means Children's Banyan Tree. It is also known as "Peerlamarri"(Saints Banyan) because there exists a tomb of a Muslim saint under the tree. 

The sightseeing of the tree was closed back in 2018 because of ill-treatment meted out on the 8-century-old Banyan tree. With the fund allocated toward the development of the tree and the area surrounding it, it may soon be open to people. 

The Telangana Government has already set up a small exhibition center showcasing the history of the tree. 

The place also has a spiritual connection because of which it received a lot of footfall as a submerged Shivling under the Srisailam project was relocated here. 

The tree resembles a hillock with green foliage from a distance and upon arriving at the site it looks like a giant green umbrella under which more than 1000 people can take shelter. 

Assam also is lucky to have such a Banyan tree which is more than 200 years old in a small village called Jalikhata which comes in between the towns of Patshala and Patacharkuchi in Assam. This particular Banyan tree also has the distinction of being the "Second largest Banyan tree in Asia". 

Also Read: Assam: Library on Trees to Attract Students, More than 600 books in Store

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