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Monks' Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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All agreed and retired to have some rest.
Vibha was at the wheel. She stopped at the entrance of the project area. There was a small thatched area along the boundary earmarked for parking. She said, "We shall alight here and walk down to see the preliminary work done so far. At VIKSAT, Ahmadabad vehicles are not allowed inside. I want to follow their arrangements."
Deepti was most inquisitive of all. Vibha answered all her queries and explained about the various works, "We shall not change the topography of the area by levelling etc. The area will be kept undulating with rolling hillocks of varying heights as it is and will be treated and developed according to its land capability pattern. The entire area has been fenced by five feet wide and four feet deep trench all around. The entrance gate is door less. The trench has been covered by an iron frame with iron bars at three inch spacing. Cattle and wild animals cannot go over it. The serpentine shallow trenches over the entire area are contour trenches two feet wide and one and half feet deep and are spaced one hundred metres apart. These trenches are a most effective device to trap every drop of water that will fall on the ground here. In between the trenches pits of two feet cube size have been dug for planting all available species of plants that grow naturally in this region. I have procured the flora for this area as written in his book by a dedicated botanist. He has recorded about 1400 odd species that grow naturally. I shall try to plant all these in the same proportion as they are in natural forest. We have started the nursery, located approximately in the centre of the area. I have tried to procure seeds of 100 species from various sources and sown them in the nursery beds. The plants will be of about
one foot height by the time rains set in and then will be planted out in the pits already dug. I shall get wildlings (seedlings from natural seed fall) during rains and first plant them in the nursery to grow to about one foot height and then in the pits. In due course of time we shall be able to cover the entire area in a good dense natural forest."
They reached at the nursery site which was the only green patch in the vast wilderness of naked barren land all around. It was very artistically and beautifully designed. There was a pond of 40'x15' size in the centre to store water from the tube well which was operative only when electricity was available and the supply was very erratic. It is necessary to keep water stored for watering the plants raised in the nursery lest they die and the whole labour and money was wasted.
Deepti was very pleased to see the pool and suggested, "We should have a swimming session. It is in no way less than a swimming pool."
Vibha, "It is such a swimming facility where not a drop of water is wasted as is the case in the swimming pools in cities where water has to be drained and refilled periodically and to be treated with chemicals. Here not a drop of water is wasted. Water of the pool is utilised for watering the plants in the nursery and refilled from the tube well every day. It is fresh good water every day and is good for healthy swimming if you so desire. I suggest that you should stay at Jhadol for a few days and experience country life.
The suggestion was liked by all and they enjoyed swimming after a long time since they had left the colleges.
Deepti, "I would love to stay here permanently after it is developed."
