World Environment Day special at Collectorate
The District Collector, Neeraj Mittal (second right), planting a bamboo sapling at the District Collectorate on Tuesday to mark the World Environment Day. District Forest Officer I.Anwardeen (right) is also in the picture.The Forest Department and Revenue authorities came together for planting saplings at the Collectorate on Tuesday to launch the urban green cover drive as part of the World Environment Day function.The District Collector, Neeraj Mittal, and the District Forest Officer, I. Anwardeen, planted five saplings of bamboo shoots in containers titled `Metro Trees'. Mr. Anwardeen said that the saplings in containers would overcome constraints with regard to space in an urban ambience. The bamboo trees would enhance greenery and help in controlling pollution. In addition, it would be easy to clean the area since there would not be many dry leaves around the trees.
With the support of corporate houses, the department has ambitious plans to promote the concept in containers such as drums. This would help in overcoming the excuse of shortage of space as a reason for not growing trees in city areas.In addition, the trouble involved in digging up the earth damaging cables and pipelines and fully-grown trees touching overhead power lines could be avoided.
Mr. Anwardeen said that during 2007-08, the State Government had allotted Rs. 50 lakh for greening the Coimbatore Corporation areas. During the year, 10,000 seedlings that could survive the stray cattle menace would be raised and planted during next year after monsoon, he said.The Government had also allotted Rs. 12.5 lakh for sapling planting in areas surrounding Corporation limits for which 2,500 seedlings would be raised and planted in suburban areas.
There is a separate allocation of Rs. 2.5 lakh for raising 8,333 seedlings for free supply to the various institutions in the city for enhancing the green cover. The Forest Department under the guidance of the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, P.C. Tyagi, would also raise and plant two lakh saplings in the farmlands at a cost of Rs. 32 lakh.
