‘Prakruti' Prakash ‘bombs' the forests, with seeds of hope

Time of India

a day ago

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Hyderabad: On June 5,
World Environment Day
, Rajanna Sircilla witnessed a stirring sight — environmental crusader Dobbala Prakash, affectionately known as 'Prakruti' Prakash, was out doing what he cherishes most: seed bombing.
Armed with 15,000 jamun (java plum) seed balls, Prakash spent six relentless hours—from 7am to 1pm—flinging, dropping, and scattering them across the rugged terrain of Manala forest in Rudrangi mandal. A writer and singer by talent, and a green warrior by passion, Prakash has earned his nature-loving moniker for his unwavering dedication to afforestation.
The seed balls, made from seeds and mud, were prepared over weeks by collecting fallen jamun seeds.
Carefully targeting forest zones and hills, the idea is simple yet powerful —rewild the landscape and coax life back into the earth."The govt must demarcate and protect the boundaries of all hills and hillocks," said the 37-year-old green crusader. "Only then can nature thrive and greenery flourish," he told TOI.
For Prakash, this wasn't a one-off ritual. Over the past 22 years, he has crafted and dispersed an astonishing 18 lakh seed balls across forest tracts, open spaces, and barren hills using traditional methods and even drones. His greening efforts span regions like Lingampeta, Chandurthi, Nikalamarri, Akkapelli, and Gambhiraopet in Rajanna Sircilla, and Sarangapur and Kondagattu in Jagtial. This monsoon alone, he plans to drop six lakh seed balls — including tamarind, jamun, custard apple, mango, neem, and other fruit-bearing varieties.
Hailing from Suddala village in Konaraopet mandal, Prakash has a heartfelt appeal to chief minister Revanth Reddy: "Protect the hills from encroachments. Fence them if needed. Let nature reclaim its space."