In a groundbreaking ecological milestone spearheaded by Chhattisgarh’s Forest and Climate Change Minister, Shree Kedar Kashyap, Bijapur district officially inaugurated its first-ever ‘Tree ATM’ on July 22, 2026. This landmark event, aimed at revolutionizing local afforestation, was accompanied by a robust Van Mahotsav (Forest Festival) celebration. The festival featured a massive plantation drive and an interactive seedball-crafting workshop at the local DAV School, uniting administrative machinery, local leadership, and the youth in a shared environmental mission.
Strategically established under the jurisdiction of the Bijapur Forest Range, the new Tree ATM is located on the NH-63 Main Road at District Hospital Chowk, adjacent to the SP Bungalow. The pioneering facility was formally inaugurated by Zila Panchayat member Shree Mathews Kujur, working under the expert administrative guidance of Bijapur’s Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dr. Sagar Jadhav. Conceived as a highly accessible distribution hub, the primary objective of the Tree ATM is to provide free saplings to villagers and the general public from a single, convenient location, eliminating the need for beneficiaries to travel long distances in search of plants. Immediately following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the facility commenced its operations by distributing free saplings to attending children and rural residents.
The high-profile inauguration witnessed strong solidarity from local public representatives and community leaders. Among the key dignitaries present were MP Representative Shree Jilaram Rana, District Scheduled Tribe Morcha President Shree Sandeep Telam, Sarpanch Sangh District President Shree K.G. Sudhakar, and Senior Public Representative & Social Media District Convenor Luv Kumar Rayudu. The event also saw a heavy deployment of forestry officials, including Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Shree Devendra Gond, Indravati Tiger Reserve Superintendent Shree Manoj Baghel, and Attached Officer Shree Ram Dutt Nagar. They were joined by Range Officers from both Bijapur and Gangaloor, departmental staff, local educators, students, and members of the media fraternity.
Simultaneously, the ecological momentum shifted to the DAV School campus, where the Bijapur Forest Range staff conducted a specialized hands-on training workshop on ‘Seedball’ manufacturing for the students. Seedballs are highly effective afforestation tools crafted from a nutrient-rich blend of soil, vermicompost, cocopeat, and sand, encapsulating native seeds. Specifically designed to regenerate rugged, barren hillsides and remote terrains with minimal cost and effort, this technique captivated the young minds. Displaying remarkable enthusiasm, the students successfully prepared thousands of seedballs within the school premises, embedding the seeds of hardy native species such as Jamun, Neem, Saja, Tamarind, Mango, and Amaltas.
The day concluded with an extensive on-campus plantation drive, where participants planted a diverse array of fruit-bearing and shade-providing saplings, including Karonda, Tamarind, Jamun, Custard Apple (Sitafal), and Drumstick (Munga). To further reinforce ecological awareness and test the students’ learning, a dynamic environment-themed quiz competition was hosted immediately after the plantation.
Exceptional performers were honored with prizes, wrapping up a highly successful day of active conservation. The event drew to a close in the presence of the Bijapur Range Officer, school faculty, and an overwhelming number of inspired students who collectively pledged to safeguard their local environment.
