Govt in Madhya Pradesh had spent 64 lakhs till now to maintain this rare tree

Rs 64 lakh spent till now to maintain a tree? Yes, this rare tree is in Madhya Pradesh. The tree guarded 24 hours by armed security personnel, was brought from Sri Lanka. Authorities call the tree planted near the Sanchi Stupa, a Buddhist center, as the Bodhi tree.

The history is that Sri Buddha attained enlightenment 2500 years ago while meditating under the tree. Following that, the tree came to be known as the Tree of Enlightenment. Emperor Ashoka visited this place in 250 BC and built a temple there. A branch from this tree was gifted by Emperor Ashoka to the king of Sri Lanka. It later grew and flourished there.

When the then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse visited India in 2012, he brought back a branch of the unique tree from Sri Lanka to India. The tree was planted on the hilltop near Salamatpur in Madhya Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Four-armed home guards were appointed to guard the tree. However, in spite of so much security, the leaves of the tree got infested due to insects.