Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan Visits AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah; Appreciates Botanical Survey of India’s Conservation Initiatives
Howrah, 14 July 2026:
Hon’ble Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, visited the AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden (AJCBIBG), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Howrah, on 14 July 2026. The visit underscored the Government’s continued commitment to biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and the preservation of India’s rich botanical heritage.
The Hon’ble Minister was warmly received at the Garden by Dr. S. P. Panda, Scientist-D, Curator & In-charge, AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, along with officers and staff of the Botanical Survey of India. The dignitaries welcomed the Hon’ble Minister and briefed him on the historical importance of the Garden, one of India’s oldest and most significant botanical institutions, renowned for its extensive living plant collections and long-standing contribution to plant conservation and research.
At the outset of his visit, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan paid floral tributes to the statue of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose, the eminent Indian scientist whose pioneering contributions to plant science continue to inspire generations of researchers.
As part of the nationwide #EkPedMaaKeNaam campaign, the Hon’ble Minister planted a sapling of Lal Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.), an endangered and endemic tree species native to India. The symbolic plantation highlighted the importance of conserving threatened plant species while promoting public participation in environmental stewardship and ecological restoration.
The Hon’ble Minister subsequently visited the iconic Great Banyan Tree, one of the world’s largest and most celebrated banyan trees, where he closely observed its remarkable canopy and the unique ecosystem it supports. Scientists of the Botanical Survey of India provided a detailed briefing on the tree’s ecological significance, scientific management, health monitoring, conservation measures, and the long-term efforts undertaken to preserve this living natural heritage.
During his interaction with BSI scientists, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan appreciated the Botanical Survey of India’s sustained efforts in the ex-situ conservation of threatened and endemic plant species, scientific documentation of India’s wild flora, taxonomic research, and the maintenance of invaluable botanical collections. He acknowledged the institution’s significant role in strengthening the country’s biodiversity conservation framework and generating scientific knowledge essential for sustainable natural resource management.
The Hon’ble Minister also interacted with scientists and officials of the Garden, expressing appreciation for their dedicated efforts in safeguarding India’s botanical wealth and encouraging continued scientific excellence in plant exploration, documentation, conservation, and environmental awareness.
The AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, established in 1787, is one of the premier botanical gardens in Asia and serves as a major centre for plant conservation, botanical research, environmental education, and ex-situ conservation under the Botanical Survey of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The Garden houses thousands of plant species from India and across the world and remains an important repository of the nation’s botanical diversity.
The visit of the Hon’ble Union Minister reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to conserving the country’s rich plant diversity and strengthening scientific institutions dedicated to biodiversity conservation, while inspiring greater public participation in environmental protection through initiatives such as #EkPedMaaKeNaam.
