The Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra, a wholly-owned company of the state government, will establish three gardens of medicinal plants in the state at a cost of Rs 34.54 lakh.
Shree Bhagwan, general manager of FDCM, told TOI that the three herbal gardens would come up on Hingna Road in Nagpur, Kasha in Dahanu (Thane) and Makhmalabad in West Nashik. In a letter to managing director of FDCM S K Sood on March 8, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the department of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (Ayush), has released Rs 20 lakh for the project. It includes Rs 10 lakh for Nagpur, Rs 5 lakh each for Dahanu and Nashik.
Bhagwan said the herbal park at Nagpur would be spread over eight hectares at corporation's sprawling campus on Hingna Road. The parks in Dahanu and Makhmalabad would be on four hectares.
"People have been using herbs for thousands of years in their everyday lives - from medicine to seasoning. Their use has increased in recent times due to popularity as an alternative medicine and hence FDCM is setting up the gardens," Bhagwan stated.
The NMPB's basic idea in setting up medicinal plants gardens is to promote Ayurveda and educate people on herbs. The gardens will include plants like amla, tulsi, neem, ashwagandha etc. "We have not finalised the species yet, but plans include creating awareness among people. In future, we may also start an OPD by appointing an honorary ayurvedic expert (vaidya) for promotion of herbal medicines," Bhagwan said.
FDCM had submitted a proposal for herbal gardens in November-December last. On January 7 this year Bhagwan had made a presentation before the NMPB and finally the parks got clearance in February and funds on March 8.
The Maharashtra government, vide a resolution on February 26, 2010, accorded its approval to establish an independent branch in the office of FDCM to carry out medicinal plants' conservation and development activities.
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