The Hindu               16.07.2013

13,000 saplings planted in nine town panchayats

In an effort to protect environment and facilitate improved rainfall, 13,000 saplings were planted in nine town panchayats in the district here on Monday.

As part of the Chief Minister’s 65{+t}{+h}birthday celebrations, the district was allotted two lakh saplings to be planed in the current year. In addition to that, the district administration has decided to plant three lakh saplings with the help of Rotary Clubs, NGOs, hospitals and public sector undertakings.

Hence in the first phase, 13,000 saplings were distributed to block development officers of town panchayats that includes Salem, Ayodhiyapattinam, Panamarathupatti, Magudanchavadi, Tharamangalam, Pethanaickenpalayam, Omalur, Attur and Yercaud.

The saplings would be planted in government vacant lands, near the bunds of lakes, desilted lakes under the MGNREGS, roadsides, premises of government buildings, private premises, schools and other places. The administration has planned to plant three lakh saplings by year-end as two lakh saplings were planted last year in the district. A separate committee to oversee the maintenance of the saplings was also constituted by the district administration. Officials added that with the onset of the monsoon, this is the right times for planting saplings as watering at the initial stage would be not a problem. Saplings distributed include banyan, neem, mantharai, illuppai, poovarasu, punnai, mahilam and pungam. These species would survive even during drought conditions and hence, had been chosen by the government for planting. Officials added that with depleting groundwater level and poor rainfall, the saplings would help in improving the rainfall and also make the district turn green.

Collector K. Maharabushanam planted a few saplings on the Collectorate premises and also distributed the saplings to the BDOs.