How An IAS Officer Transformed A Plot Of Barren Land Into A Micro Forest

Prabhat Misra

3 years ago

Two women wearing sarees pose for a selfie with a plant.

A committed IAS officer transformed a plot of barren land in Uttar Pradesh into a micro forest. How?

Between Firozabad and Agra, on both sides of the Lucknow-Agra expressway, there are many ravines and barren lands. These lands are dry and non-fertile. They also have termites and water scarcity.

There are many barren lands between Firozabad and Agra, on both sides of the Lucknow-Agra expressway.

The initiative of transformation of these barren lands was taken up by the then district magistrate of Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh), Neha Sharma. The IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer selected a block of more than an acre for her project, near the Yamuna river bank in Jalalpur village.

Neha Sharma, an IAS officer who transformed more than an acre of barren land.

Sharma personally visited the place many times with her team of officers. She started a challenging projected and supervised it closely. Ultimately, she succeeded.

Neha Sharma visited the plantation site on the barren land many times.

Sharma gave the responsibility of looking after the place to a local farmer, Rambabu. He took care of the saplings planted there and made the project successful. Sharma provided every possible support, from her end, to the project.

A local farmer named Rambabu helped the project become successful by taking care of the saplings which were planted there.

Slowly, the biodiversity of the place started improving. Birds, reptiles, mammals, bees, butterflies, and many more animals made it their home.

Since the last three years, a saint, Pagal Das Baba, and his followers have been living in this area. They also take care of the plants. They have helped improve the region’s biodiversity. They spread awareness about environmental protection amongst the local villagers and other visitors.