Hyderabad, December 26: Rashtrapati Nilayam here, the Presidential estate in southern India, is witnessing several green initiatives in tune with President Pratibha Patil’s emphasis on environmental conservation.
The Nilayam is where the President stays during his/her visit, at least once in a year, and from where official business of the President’s Office is conducted during the stay.
However, the visits of successive Presidents to the Nilayam have not been very frequent and a good portion of land in the sprawling 90-acre estate remained unproductive.
With Patil stressing on environment protection and promotion of India’s rich heritage, several green initiatives like rain water harvesting, water conservation by using drip irrigation and planting of herbal and medicinal plants have been taken at the Nilayam, Archana Datta, the President’s OSD (PR), told PTI.