The Hindu : Kerala News : Coastal areas to sport green barrier

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 17, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala

Coastal areas to sport green barrier

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister inaugurates Harithatheeram project

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Green Mission: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurating the Harithatheeram project at Perumathura in the city on Thursday. —

PERUMATHURA: Planting trees along the coastal area is not intended as a substitute for seawall but a natural, environmental way of protecting the fisher folk from sea erosion and natural calamities, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

He was speaking after the State-level inauguration of Harithatheeram, a project launched by the Department of Forest, in association with the Department of Fisheries, here on Thursday.

Sea erosion

The Chief Minister said the coastal area from Neendakara to Ambalappuzha was frequently subjected to sea erosion and the building up of a seawall alone would not offer adequate protection to the people. The highlight of Harithatheeram project was that the fisher folk would be the custodians of the saplings. “You should tend them the way you look after the plants in your own garden,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.

The project involves the planting of 14 lakh saplings along the vulnerable stretches of the coastline and another nine lakh saplings in farmlands and homesteads in the first year. The participatory project will be managed by the Theera Samrakshana Vanavalkarana Samithis (coastal protection and afforestation committees) comprising representatives of families living within 200 metres of the shoreline.

Barrier

Apart from the creation of a green barrier against tidal surges and strong wave action, the scheme envisages rehabilitation, planting and supply of saplings and awareness campaigns. While the Fisheries Department has allocated Rs.154.39 crore, the Forest Department is to provide Rs.25.56 crore.

The Government is hoping to extend the project to the 205 hectares that will be available after rehabilitating fishermen families. Mangrove forests will be set up on 17 hectares. The project has also earmarked Rs.9 crore for the protection and maintenance of 150 hectares of private mangrove forests.

The Forest Department has identified 29.5 hectares of land in Thiruvananthapuram district for the project. Coastal protection and afforestation committees will be constituted in the targeted areas. Headed by the respective ward member, the committee will include one person from each household and representatives of political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organisations. An official from the Forest Department will be the secretary of the panel.

The sites for the project were identified on the basis of an official survey. The study found that some parts of the Kottukal, Kadhinamkulam, Chirayinkeezh, Anchuthengu, Vettoor and Idava panchayats and the city wards of Panathura, Poonthura, Beemapally, Manikyavilakam, Shanghumughom, Valiathura, Kannanthura, Pallithura and Vettukad were ideal for planting trees. The species that are being supplied include bamboo, mangroves, almond, casuarina, ‘punna’ and ‘poovarasu.’ The project will conclude on December 2009.

Minister for Forests Benoy Viswom, who presided over the function, said leaders of all major political parties were actively involved in the implementation of the programme. “The project cuts across political parties and affiliations,” he said.

Anathalavattom Anandan and M.A. Vaheed, MLAs, participated in the function.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy inaugurated the project at Kanjangad in Kasaragod district.

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

Kerala