The Indian Express              05.06.2013

Vadodara gets an ‘oxygen garden’

An "oxygen garden" spread over an area of one hectare is being developed in the city's Tandalja locality with banyan and peepal trees planted recently by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).

The garden has 232 banyan trees and 76 peepal trees that are known to emanate huge amounts of oxygen. "We deliberately decided upon planting these two species because their photosynthesis process continues even after sunset, which gives them a unique character. Visitors can have the benefit of inhaling oxygen whenever they visit the garden," said R.K. Sugoor, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, VMC.

The garden is being created to serve as an oxygen chamber to the visitors while being 'ecologically beneficial and aesthetically pleasing', according to officials. While the peepal trees have been planted along the garden's periphery, banyan trees are planted at a distance of ten feet to allow the trunk to grow vertically and not horizontally.

According to Sugoor, the garden is being developed considering the priority accorded to ecological benefits.