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CEE launches afforestation project in Karaikal

KARAIKAL: The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) in Karaikal, supported by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, has launched coastal afforestation programme in Karukalacherry in Karaikal district on the Independence Day on Wednesday.

A. Sampath Kumar, Project Associate of the CEE, told The Hindu on Thursday that the fishing community in Karukalacherry organised the plantation taking advantage of the monsoon rains.

The village panchayat members, land owners and women from the local self-help groups had mutually consented to raise casuarina plantation in their village and maintain them.

Mr. Sampath Kumar said that R. Shailaja, Regional Director of the CEE, Bangalore and Shriji Kurup, Programme Officer, CEE, Karaikal, supported the technical and financial aid.

He pointed out that about 10 acres of land had been “greened” with casuarina saplings, and 4,000 saplings were planted an acre. The CEE had extended support for fencing, farm pond, labour work, sapling and maintenance costs, and the SHGs would be maintaining the plantations, he said.

Mr. Sampath Kumar said that it was estimated that the beneficiaries could earn Rs.1.35 lakh an acre by the end of the fourth year. They would continue to raise another set of plantations themselves.

The CEE educated the fishing community about the economic benefits and ecological gain through the afforestation programme.

The coastal plantation programme functioned as a natural “green shield” to protect the coastal village against disasters such as cyclone, tsunami and floods, he noted.

The CEE had also raised a well-equipped satellite nursery at Jawahar Navodaya School in Karaikal with support from the school management to ensure continuous supply of saplings such as casuarinas, cashew, neem, mangroves, etc.

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