For a greener world

Bachupally Police Station could well be  a green police station soon. Aimed to promote organic farming, the initiative, which was started a couple of months ago, has police personnel growing at least 10 different varieties of vegetables on the station’s roof top.

Balakrishna Reddy, Inspector of Police, Bachupally PS, is the man behind the operation. On how it all started, he explains, “I’m very interested in agriculture and I’ve always been on the lookout for organic vegetables. But it is difficult to get them near my place. Sensing my interest for only organic vegetables, a vendor advised me to start organic farming on the terrace.”

 But how could a busy cop get time for terrace gardening? “It’s just a one time job to plant the saplings, and we have to maintain and water them regularly. Some of my staff members also helped me, so it was easy,” he says.

Within 40 days, the seeds turned into saplings. “Now, bottle gourds, tomatoes, beans, chillies, brinjal, onions, etc., will be ready in two weeks,” he informs. Balakrishna has plans to expand the initiative if things go as intended. “More people should take up organic farming as the entire family can eat fresh vegetables grown in their own backyard and stay healthy. Plants protect you against the soaring heat from roof tops and it’s cost-effective too,” he concludes.