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Green cover project for city

Photo: Vipin Chandran

GREEN DRIVE: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom (in the background) applauds as Simon Britto, MLA, plants a sapling at Maharaja’s College on Monday as part of the college’s tree planting project for the city.

The idea is to have a green cover for Kochi. As the construction boom is turning the city into a multi-storeyed concrete jungle, the drive for tree canopies becomes more important. A project with such an aim took shape in the Nature Club of the Maharaja’s College and it began with a sapling being planted by Simon Britto, MLA, who had provided funds for the same.

The Minister for Forests, Binoy Vishwom, formally launched the project. The most effective way to clean the air of carbon dioxide is to have more trees. And the Department of Forests has been promoting a string of projects under the Social Forestry scheme.

On Environment Day, taking to the streets on cycles with a message of carbon-free transportation were representatives of Green Doctors — a youth forum of the Swadeshi Science Movement. A. Jayakumar, national organising secretary of Vijnana Bharathi, flagged off the rally from the High Court junction.

About 40 youngsters cycled around the city with an aim to spread the message of environment-friendly practices in daily life. Unfortunately, there were hardly any people on the road to witness the campaign, due to the hartal.

Some of the corporates, however, organised Environment Day a day later. The Recreation Club of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. organised a programme at which the principal general manager, Charlie Mathew, planted a sapling on the occasion. Thereafter, a lecture was held on the State government’s Clean Kerala Mission. The District Mission Coordinator, N. Vinodini, spoke on the topic.

Shyama Rajagopal

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