Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Cuddalore, Villupuram move to expand green cover

Special Correspondent

Degraded mangroves, forests being rejuvenated

PRIZE WINNERS: Collector Rajendra Ratnoo giving away prizes to the winners of competitions held in connection with World Forestry Day, in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE : The administration is implementing projects to rejuvenate the degraded mangroves and forest areas, Rajendra Ratnoo, District Collector, said at the World Forestry Day function here on Wednesday.

Mr. Ratnoo said the 57.5 km-long coastline of Cuddalore district was vulnerable to natural calamities such as cyclones, tsunami and floods.

It had been decided to raise bio-shields to reduce the impact of cyclones and to prevent soil erosion. Of the total area of 3.68 lakh hectares in the district, forests constituted 12,193 ha and thorny tree species in the 347 tankbeds another 7,740 ha.

Against the stipulated norms of 33 per cent forest area, Cuddalore could boast of only 5.4 per cent forest area. Therefore, intense efforts had been made to extend the forest area, Mr. Ratnoo said.

Saplings had been planted on 3,066 ha in a dozen villages on the periphery of forests such as Keezhkurichi, Kattumailur, Nangur, Sethuvarayankuppam, M. Pudur, Mankulam, Arasankudi, Karmangudi, Kattayanallur, Singarakuppam, Mankulam and Thiruthuraiyur. In these villages, 29 percolation ponds and 26 checkdams had been built to recharge the ground water.

Mr. Ratnoo further said that in the past two years, degraded mangroves on 150 ha were rejuvenated at a cost of Rs 64.46 lakh. Teak saplings were planted on the bunds of the water sources, he added.

At Villupuram, District Collector Brajendra Navnith said forests accounted for only seven per cent of the total area in the rain-deficient district; he underscored the importance of increasing the forest area.

Superintendent of Police K. Periaiah called upon the educational institutions to help expand the green cover. Each tree had unique characteristics and properties and their study itself was highly rewarding, he said

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Cuddalore, Villupuram move to expand green cover

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