The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Jayakumar spearheading greening programme in North Chennai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 26, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Jayakumar spearheading greening programme in North Chennai

By P. Oppili

CHENNAI, DEC. 25. The much polluted and neglected north Chennai is getting a better and greener look. It is the result of the efforts by D. Jayakumar, Law and Information Technology Minister, who represents the Royapuram constituency.

He decided to apportion a sizable amount from the MLA Constituency Development Fund for planting saplings on the roadsides at Royapuram.

According to Forest department officials, 5,000 saplings have been planted in his constituency in two phases. The first phase was taken up and completed during the 2003-04 fiscal. The second phase was taken up in the current financial year and completed recently at a cost of Rs. 6.55 lakhs.

Two-metre tall saplings, raised in the department nursery at Anna Nagar, were planted and tree guards provided. Soon after planting them, the department roped in local residents, who agreed to water the plants and protect them against vandalism, said the officials.

Mr. Jayakumar regularly visits the streets and requests the residents to protect the planted saplings.

Instead of planting regular avenue trees, the department identified species to suit soil conditions and the rough wind pattern in the north Chennai coastal area.

Rain tree, `Ayal Vagai,' `Thaen Poochi' and `Poovarasu' are some of the species planted. These species can withstand the weather and soil conditions in the area, said K.S.S.V.P. Reddy, Wildlife Warden, Chennai.

75 streets covered

Under the greening programme, more than 75 streets were covered, including Cemetery Road, M.C. Road, Gummalamman Koil Street and Arathoon Road. Each sapling was planted at a distance of at least five metres, he said.

The department hired 10 workers to water and provide protection to the 500 saplings. They continued the work until the saplings grew into a small tree, said K. Asokan, Range Officer, City Beautification Range, North.

Once the saplings grew tall, the sultry conditions in the area would change.

The green cover could reduce temperature and mitigate pollution levels in this congested residential area, the forest officials said.

The department would study the change in the climate and reduction in pollution levels once the saplings grew.

The District Rural Development Agency, which draws up guidelines for utilising funds from the Legislative Assembly Member's Constituency Development Fund, should take the cue from the Minister to include greening efforts in the list of items for grant of funds, say the forest officials.

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

Tamil Nadu