27-04-2025
Environmentalist defend conocarpus plant, slam ‘unscientific attack'
Jana Vignana Vedika, a forum that promotes scientific awareness and rational thinking among the public, held a meeting on Sunday to clear the air on the unscientific claims being made against the Conocarpus plant originating from Yemen.
Environmentalist and retired professor of Botany K. Bayyapu Reddy, who has played a significant role in environmental clearances for various irrigation projects, has studied the Conocarpus plant for four years. Speaking at the event, he called for an end to the negative campaign on social media against the Conocarpus plant. seeking its removal.
Mr. Bayyapu Reddy said: 'The plant originated in Yemen, and is now widely grown in countries like Dubai, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi, contributing to 70 percent of their green cover. It absorbs carbon dioxide in large quantities and releases oxygen, but is being portrayed otherwise. It thrives in diverse soil, water and climatic conditions.' He termed the allegations against the plant as reprehensible and against rational thought.
Jana Vignana Vedika's state President, Vallamreddy Lakshmana Reddy rebutted the claim that the Conocarpus is a 'foreign plant.' He pointed out that many common plants like tomato, potato, coffee, tea, wheat, tobacco, and chilli were also brought into India.
Chartered accountant E. Phalguna Kumar and AP Council of Science & Technology (APCOST) ex-member Secretary T.V. Krishna Reddy attended the event.
