A couple of years ago, Raipur, the capital city of Chattisgarh was ranked as the seventh most polluted cities in the world. Now, the city has worked towards removing its tainted image by creating a forest and 19 acres of ‘oxy zone’ right in the heart of the city. While in today’s times, when people are destroying forests in the name of development, the city of Raipur has set an example to the world by razing down buildings to develop a microcosmic forest region which will combat air pollution.

With the alarming pollution rate, people of Raipur decided to take the matter into their own hands. This project of building an oxy zone in the middle of the city is the brainchild of a few IAS officers who were determined to overturn the ailing environmental conditions of the city.

This micro forest which is spread across 202 hectares of land is also one of the largest man-made safaris in Asia. Around 70 odd government buildings have been demolished to make way for this green zone. In fact, a huge commercial establishment was slated to come at this place which could have raked in money, but the city decided to use this Rs 1000 crore worth land to create a forest that would act as lungs of the city.

The eco-tourism project will attract visitors who can enjoy a safari in this large forest. It will have almost 3000 different species of flowers. Animals would be transported from different corners of the country to this micro forest for conservation purpose. While in a zoo, you get to see caged animals, in a safari you can see wild animals in their natural surroundings.

 The oxy-zone has potassium water, spread all over the open expanse. This is done to disinfect the tyres of the safari vehicles which in return keeps the wildlife safe. This commendable project will put Raipur on the map for ecotourism and its high time other cities in India too followed this positive and significant initiative.