Sehore (Madhya Pradesh): The iconic bamboo baheda of Sehore, home to the rare British-era Katang bamboo, is slowly vanishing due to continued neglect by the forest department.
Once a symbol of Sehore’s natural beauty and attraction along Indore-Bhopal Highway and Sewan River, the bamboo grove is now a shadow of its former self.
Planted during the British era to beautify the area around All Saints Church and the riverbanks, the exotic bamboo plants were brought from abroad and flourished for decades.
However, frequent summer fires, theft, and large-scale cutting during highway expansion have drastically reduced their numbers. Historian Purushottam Kuiya said that the bamboo, being non-revenue generating, had been ignored by the authorities.
An ambitious action plan was once proposed to conserve the grove and develop it as a tourist spot, involving multiple departments including the Urban Administration and Eco-Tourism Board. The plan aimed to plant 2,500 new bamboo saplings with a budget of Rs 16 lakh but lack of government funding stalled its implementation.
SDO Rajesh Sharma confirmed that the plan was submitted but did not progress due to budget constraints. Locals now have sought immediate action to preserve this natural and historical heritage.
