MP Police's initiative to regain lost biodiversity in 172 acres of barren land earns award

A unique initiative to regain lost biodiversity in 172 acres of barren land at the police training school (PTS) in the Gwalior district was awarded on the occasion of the International Biodiversity Day on Friday.

The Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board recognised the out-of-the-box thinking of IPS officer and Additional Director General (ADG) of Police Raja Babu Singh, who implemented the plan in 2025 while heading the police training establishment of the central Indian state.

The citation for the award stated that Singh led his team in planting 16,000 saplings of 100 varieties across about 40 acres of the total 172-acre campus of the PTS located at Tighra. A 'herbal garden' comprising medicinal plants was also created on an acre of land at the same facility, the citation said.

The PTS trains newly recruited police constables.

Singh, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, received the award in the individual category during an event held here to mark International Biodiversity Day, according to an official statement.

A senior biodiversity official said the award recognises special initiatives and contributions by individuals and organisations usually not associated with forests and climate change.

The rejuvenation plan included planting about 6,000-7,000 nitrogen-fixing and fruit-bearing plants, in addition to the sowing of carbon-absorbing grass and bamboo groves. These plants help check soil erosion.

More than 800 police recruits (constable ranks), environmentalists and forestry veterans participated in this biodiversity revival plan at the PTS, which is located more than 400 km north of the state capital Bhopal.

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