By SANTOSH MOHANTY
The State Medicinal Plant Board and Angul Forest Division will jointly embark on a mission to identify herbal plants in Mandaragiri mountain which is a home to rare medicinal herbs and plants.
Widely known as a bioreserve in the district, the Mandaragiri mountain is spread over 625 hectares and situated on the confluence of three reserve forest areas under Angul Forest Division. The mountain with rare medicinal herbs is situated close to the district headquarters town of Angul which is a central region of Odisha.
Forest officials said initially the study for identifying herbal plants, species and shrubs will be conducted over the dense forest region of nearly 200 hectares and added that the work will be extended later to other parts of the forest region.
The forest officials said a team of six members from the Capital city Bhubaneswar has discussed with the concerned staff responsible for study and identification of herbal plants in Mandaragiri. Six Van Suraksha Samities (VSS) of Panchamahala, Tumuni, Bhaliapal, Saharaguda and Saradhapur have been protecting the biosphere over the years in close partnership with the local forest wing.
Social activists and local environmentalist said the Mandaragiri mountain is a home to as many as 42 species of herbal plants most of which might be extinct from the earth if necessary steps are not taken for their survival.
Villagers of Mushapapuli and Saradhapur said Mandaragiri mountain had played a key role during Samudra Manthan(Stirring of Ocean) in the mythological era. It was used as stirring stone for such purpose. The stirring of ocean produced nectar. The lords took nectar and Mandaragiri mountain earned holiness to be a part of such a sacred event. Due to the sanctity of Mandaragiri mountain, whosoever touches its soil becomes sacred and recovers from all diseases, the villagers added.
Of late, there has been growing demand for recognition of Mandaragiri as a major tourist spot of Odisha which is potential enough to contribute immensely to the local economics through generation of livelihood opportunities for the people of the region.
