Jharkhand is planning a series of measures, among them a herbal garden, to preserve rare medicinal plants which are fast disappearing from the state.

The garden, to be raised over 400 hectares in Dhalbhum forest division of Jamshedpur, will grow 25 plants with medicinal and commercial value.

"We have identified Bhurudih, Bharagora and Dhalbhumgarh forest patches to grow the plants," said Forest Officer Satyajit Singh.

Among the plants to be grown are Sapagandha, Safed Muslai, Chiraaita, Shivlingi, Karanaj, Pojo and Chirai goraw. These plants help treat a wide variety of diseases.

For example, the paste prepared from the bark of Chirai gorwa helps purify blood, while its root is used to treat kala azar.

Safed Muslai can treat impotency, and Sarpagandha acts against high blood pressure.

"The garden will have a special centre to train farmers and students in growing these plants and inform them about their commercial value," Singh said.

There will also be a museum and a library.

A project report on the garden is awaiting clearance by the government.

Twenty-nine percent of the land in Jharkhand is under forest cover, and it is one of India's richest states in medicinal plants.

According to Kailash Pandey, a doctor, the state's medicinal plants should be used to promote Ayurveda.

"The government should open research centres for the study of medicinal plants," he said.

--Indo-Asian News Service