Development of "Jungle Inside Terminal"

*Bangalore,- Prasanna Murthy Desai, Vice President and renowned Landscape Specialist overseeing the development of the Bangalore International Airport, has emphasized the importance of trees in the airport's expansion. He stated that trees serve as oxygen reservoirs, removing thousands of kilograms of carbon from the environment, and should be transplanted instead of being cut down for building structures, roads, and other infrastructure development projects.

Under Prasanna Murthy's leadership, Bangalore Airport has successfully transplanted 100,000 shrubs, including 54 species aged between 20 and 25 years. Notably, he has curated 2,000 species from five continents, promoting environmental harmony and incorporating them into the airport's terminal. The airport also boasts a collection of 3,600 indigenous plant species from 26 agro-climatic zones in India.

Addressing the audience at the Landscape Architects and Environmentalists joint event organized by Vidya Bhavan Polytechnic, Prasanna Murthy highlighted the significance of plant life mentioned in various religious texts, including Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Sikhism, Jainism, Islam, Christianity, etc. He shared that these texts speak about diverse plant species symbolizing planets, stars, and offer insights into the rich flora associated with different regions.

Prasanna Murthy stated that trees, like humans, are living entities and communicative. He urged people to engage in a dialogue with trees, as they respond to our emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and actions. The act of cutting down large trees is considered an offense against nature, akin to a sin.

Expressing concern over the loss of traditional plant species, Prasanna Murthy stressed the need to create spaces for both local and migratory birds. He highlighted the role of birds in controlling harmful insects and enhancing soil fertility, urging people to preserve their habitats.

Prasanna Murthy addressed the gathering of landscape architects and environmentalists, urging them to incorporate natural and ethical methods in construction activities. He emphasized the importance of preserving lakes, ponds, and river ecosystems while discouraging deforestation in hills. During the event, architects and environmentalists, including Sunil Laddha, Divya Sharma, Shantanu Sharma, Advocate Sushil Kothari, environmental enthusiast Kushal Raval, Sudhir Kumawat, Raghuvir Devda, welcomed Prasanna Murthy with enthusiasm. The event was coordinated by Principal Dr. Anil Mehta.