Blue lotus of Mansarovar fame blooms in Raipur

Bhopal: A rare blue lotus, found mainly in the Kailash Mansarovar region, has bloomed in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur, considered a hostile climatic zone for the plant species, in a breakthrough by an agriculture scientist.

Krishna Kumar Sahu, professor of soil science department in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University at Raipur, has successfully grown a blue lotus in the rooftop of his house.

“Blue lotus is a rare species, breeding of which occurs in Kailash Mansarovar, a cold region. I have successfully grown the species in a tiny pond created on the rooftop of my house. The species has withstood three summers of Raipur where mercury soars to 47°C during the season,” he told this newspaper on Thursday.

The flower grown in the agriculture scientist’s rooftop garden is, however, smaller in size as compared to that of the Mansarovar species.

Breeding of blue lotus happens in cold and high altitude regions.

The scientist’s wife, Puspa Sahu, a B.Sc. in horticulture, also played a key role in growing the plant.

“Agriculture scientists across India have now focused on growing exotic crop and species in different climatic zones in the country. The blue lotus project is a part of this,” Dr Sahu said.