Patna, Jan 5 (IANS): An old neem tree, associated with Mahatma Gandhi and lying neglected in Bihar's East Champaran, would now be preserved and conserved under the government's plan to develop the district as a 'Gandhi Circuit' to attract tourists.

Motihari legislator Krishnanand Paswan said the government has already sanctioned Rs.25 lakh to conserve the historical tree. "As a first step, the area around the tree would be fenced and the surroundings would be beautified to attract tourists," he said.

It is believed that it was under this tree, locally known as 'Gandhi ka neem', that the father of the nation would meet aggrieved farmers during his Satyagraha movement and spent hours with them discussing the strategy to free the country from the British rule.

The tree is located at Turkaulia near Motihari. It was in East Champaran where Mahatma Gandhi led indigo cultivators' revolt as part of the Satyagraha movement against the British after his return from South Africa.

Last year, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said all places associated with Gandhi during his Satyagraha movement in East Champaran would be developed under an ambitious plan - 'Gandhi circuit'.