The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Massive green cover drive to take off in Coimbatore on Jan. 9

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 05, 2011
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Massive green cover drive to take off in Coimbatore on Jan. 9

Special Correspondent

Siruthuli-RAAC initiative to plant over one lakh saplings for a year

Coimbatore: Siruthuli and Residents' Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) will launch on January 9 “Pasum Pulari”, a massive drive to plant more than a lakh saplings throughout this year.

RAAC president C.R. Swaminathan and Siruthuli Trustee Kanaklal Abhaichand told presspersons on Tuesday that a total of 1,04,572 saplings will be planted across Coimbatore.

The year 2011 had been declared the International Year of Forests. In keeping with this theme, Siruthuli and RAAC planned to implement a green cover project for the city.

In the last few years, the city had lost thousands of trees due to road widening projects. To make up for the loss of trees, Siruthuli was partnering with RAAC and other NGOs in Coimbatore to celebrate the International Year of Forests, by planting more than a lakh saplings.

January 9 had been chosen as the launch date in order to make it a part of the ongoing Coimbatore Vizha.

Each of the saplings would be looked after by a member of the Green Army constituted by the Siruthuli and RAAC.

Dossier

An elaborate dossier would be made available to the Green Guardians, Green Wardens, Green Hands and Green Thumbs in order to ensure 100 per cent tree care.

In the event of a tree being destroyed / removed, the team members would ensure that a replacement would be made immediately.

The website ( www.greencoimbatore.com) would have the details of the programme of planting and nurturing the saplings until each of these were two years old.

NGOs, residents, students and residential associations could participate in the programme.

Those interested could register at the website, or contact the call centre on 0422-4241830 or mail info@greencoimbatore.com for details. Those who register would get well-grown free saplings, and help in planting these. RAAC and Siruthuli volunteers would periodically check the growth of plants up to two years.

After the launch, every month would witness the participation of an eco-conscious celebrity in this programme. The 10 months that follow would see a flurry of green hands at work - planting, nurturing and raising saplings.

The Coimbatore Corporation, officials from all departments, including the police, captains of the industry, members of all leading NGOs of Coimbatore, people representing various sections of society and students would participate.

On the day of the launch, a rally would be taken out at 8 a.m. from VOC Park to PRS Grounds. City Police Commissioner C. Sylendra Babu would flag off the rally that would be taken out by students, NGOs, Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force personnel. At PRS Grounds, the official website of this event www.greencoimbatore.com would be launched.

Thereafter, 40 saplings would be planted on PRS Grounds and 40 more would be distributed among Green Guardians and other NGOs.

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

Tamil Nadu