Kerala - Kochi   

On a mission to make Kochi green

The former Mayor C.M. Dinesh Mani is happy when he passes through the Kaloor-Kathrikadavu stretch dotted with several `kanikonna' trees.

With tree felling becoming rampant in Ernakulam district, a project initiated by Mr. Mani during his tenure as Mayor is an example of how a local body can help protect nature. During the Vishu festival, the trees here bore thousands of bunches of `kanikonna.' Mr. Mani, who now represents the Palluruthy constituency, recollected the local body's decision to turn the stretch in to a `kanikonna' street. "About 300 saplings were planted on the Kaloor-Kathrikadavu road in 2003. The project was part of planting 10,000 saplings in areas coming under the Kochi Corporation. We started planting `kanikonna' saplings in the first phase," he said.

The Horticultural Society had provided the saplings to the Kochi Corporation. The Corporation authorities took care of the saplings. Mr. Mani said a `tree guard' was set up to protect the saplings.

"We got the support of agencies in setting up the cover for hundreds of trees. A few saplings failed to bloom, but many of them did," he said. Greens in the district, which extended support to the mission, said: "The planting of the `kanikonna' saplings along the Kaloor-Kathrikadavu stretch was an example of how local bodies could intervene in providing a green cover to the city. Major cities, including New Delhi and Bangalore, follow professional ways of tree planting and management," said C.M. Joy, environmentalist and faculty member of Sacred Heart College, Thevara.

S. Sitaraman, Secretary of the Association for Environment Protection, Aluva, said: "Take the example of tree felling on Eloor road and Aluva palace road. Commercial establishments cut down trees that block the view of their outlet. There is no discussion on how to protect a tree," Prof. Sitaraman said.

Mr. Mani said greater coordination between environmental groups and local bodies was essential in protecting the green cover in the Greater Kochi region he said.

G. Krishnakumar

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