The Hindu : Saplings ready for Urban Greenery project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Saplings ready for Urban Greenery project

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, MARCH 16. The Forest Department has raised over 15,000 saplings for the Urban Greenery Project expected to begin in mid-June this year.

The Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, T. Sekar, told The Hindu that the seedlings were being raised at three nurseries - two in Coimbatore and one at the Forest Timber Depot in Mettupalayam. The planting of saplings would begin by mid-June or latest by July. The department was waiting for the summer to end. The preliminary works for this urban afforestation project would start immediately after the first shower that marks the beginning of the South West monsoon.

The saplings were raised at a cost of Rs. 4.5 lakhs. For ensuring higher survival rate and protecting them from stray cattle, they were being raised to a height of six to seven feet, the Conservator said. The normal rate of survival in any afforestation drive was reported to be 80 to 90 per cent and when institutions and associations took care of the saplings on protected premises, the survival rate was more than 99 per cent, he pointed out.

The project, to be implemented by a team led by the District Forest Officer, P. Durairasu, would have two components. The strategy to be adopted for the greening project would be to have saplings planted in all the 72 wards with the assistance of the Corporation.

The elected representatives in all these wards would be consulted in identifying the locations for planting the saplings.

The civic body would take up the responsibility of watering these saplings. Voluntary and eco-friendly organisations were being roped in for monitoring and also for following up the post-planting measures, he said.

They would be asked to motivate residents to join the programme, the Conservator added. The other strategy was to plant the saplings with the help of residents' welfare associations, educational institutions and hospitals. They would be given the responsibility of protecting the saplings.

The project was being implemented in all the six Corporations - Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai and Tirunelveli. Under the project, the Department was focussing more on shade trees like Chenbaga, Neem, Pungan, Peltophorum, Gulmohar, Paradise and Naaval.

Before commencing the groundwork, the Forest Department was thinking of advising the executing agencies to check the soil conditions and water availability to decide on the suitable species to be planted.

Institutions, organisations and welfare associations interested in becoming a partner in this project could contact the District Forest Officer, the Conservator added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Saplings ready for Urban Greenery project

Tense moments at CMC Hospital

Ration rice seized

7-year RI for dacoity

No power

Around The City

Readers' Mail