The Odisha government's Forest department has planted around 30,000 'phasi' saplings in Ganjam district as this specific variety of tree is in demand for construction of chariots of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra.
The wheels of the chariots of Jagannath Rath Yatra are made from phasi logs. As many as 72 numbers of phasi logs of 14-feet long and six-foot girth are required for making wheels of three chariots of the deities for rath yatra.
"To cater for the requirement of the phasi logs for making the chariots for the Jagannath Rath Yatra in future, we have planted around 30,000 phasi and 2,000 neem plants in two major areas of Ghumusar south Forest division in Ganjam district", said Prabhakar Nayak, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Ghumusar south division.
