AGRA: In congested Shahganj, the house of a retired banker has become a point of attraction for not just local residents but also foreign tourists from countries such as Germany, Japan, and Bangladesh.
Former State Bank of India employee, Chandrashekar Sharma, calls his 300-year-old residence a “greenhouse” as it is home to over 1,000 plants of 400 different varieties planted across a 6,300 sq ft area.
A large part of the outer walls of his property is covered by a vertical garden. Interestingly, he has grown lotus plants, rare in the Agra region, at his residence. In the past two years, he has helped over 50 houses across the city implement his “greenhouse” model. So far, Sharma says he has planted over 2,000 trees and aims to plant 500 more in the next year. “I am emotionally attached to plants and trees and love them like my kids,” he says.
On Saturday afternoon, TOI found that the temperature at his house was lower by 4 degrees celsius, as compared to 44 degrees celsius outside. The air quality index was recorded at 25, which falls under the “good” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Bureau.
A winner of the divisional horticulture exhibition seven times, Sharma said, “I have used almost all the vacant space in my house for cultivating plants, including the roof and walls. Presently, my plants are flowering, bearing fruits, and growing vegetables. I have also grown a variety of vines and xerophytes (a plant that needs very little water)."
He added, "For the past three decades, I have studied Mughal and Japanese techniques and have tried to implement them at my home. Since I don’t have a drip irrigation system installed, I use showers to water them. I prepare vermicompost at home to provide them with required nutrients.”
Sharma says that the variegated ficus, duranta golden, and green money plants are "easy to grow". He has grown bougainvillea, jasmines, tulips, roses, kinnows, and bottle gourds at his place.
“No artificial makeover can beat natural beauty. People should opt for this green method to make their houses look beautiful. Plants exude a lot of positive energy and are great stress busters. Besides, they keep pollution at bay. Anyone can come and check the mercury level in my house to see for themselves,” he says.
Sharma’s wife Neelam, who is a retired teacher, said, “Our mornings are filled with the sound of birds. These days you can find sparrows, bulbuls, and hummingbirds visiting our residence. For the past one week, two kingfishers have been coming over. It's also wonderful to see butterflies fluttering about.”
Sharma says he spends two hours every day taking care of his plants at home. “It is also my fun-filled fitness regime,” he adds.
Sharma’s neighbour, Santosh Kulshrestha, told TOI, “People visiting Fatehpur Sikri stop to see his house en route. He is an environmentalist. Besides extensively decorating his house with a variety of plants, he has been individually planting trees in public places for a long time. Civic authorities should consult him to increase the green cover in Agra.”
