Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Assembly complex premise to sport a green touch

Special Correspondent

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Green Mission: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurating the planting of medicinal plants in the compound of the Legislative Assembly complex in the city on Wednesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The premises of the State Legislature Complex and Secretariat will sport a herbal touch soon, thanks to a project taken up by the Government to beautify the two places with medicinal plants.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan planted a ‘kanikonna’ sapling to inaugurate the project in the sprawling grounds of the Assembly complex here on Wednesday evening.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, Ministers and MLAs also planted saplings. Legislature secretary N.K. Jayakumar, Health Secretary Vishwas Mehta, Ayurveda Medical Education Director K. Sankaran and Principal of Ayurveda College M.R. Vasudevan Namboothiri were present.

The beautification of the two premises has been taken up by the State Medicinal Plant Board with an assistance of Rs.10 lakh from the National Medicinal Plant Board.

The Ayurveda Research Centre, Poojappura, has been entrusted with the preparation of the garden.

Under the proposal, medicinal plants and trees will be planted in the grounds of the two offices, wherever space permits. In addition, potted medicinal herbs will be exhibited prominently.

The project also involves exhibiting laminated pictures of medicinal plants at major venues such as the Museum, library, verandahs and the Assembly complex.

Name boards will be put up to identify the species of all trees on the Assembly and Secretariat premises.

According to the State Medicinal Plant Board, Kerala is home to 800 ayurvedic drug factories and 13,000 traditional healers who contribute Rs.500 crore to the State’s kitty.

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