The Hindu 05.09.2013
Greening Chennai, the native way
If the Chennai Corporation has its way, tree cover in
Chennai could increase from 5.5 percent to 11 per cent in less than a
year.
At a Corporation Council meeting recently,
Mayor Saidai Duraisamy said that 20 lakh palmyra trees would be planted
alongside waterways in the city. Work on planting of 6.5 lakh trees will
start shortly, he added. The work is expected to be complete by March
2014.
The initiative is part of efforts to increase
the tree cover to 33.33 percent of the area in the city. According to a
study, palmyra trees were found to be suitable for climatic and civic
conditions of Chennai, said Mr. Duraisamy. The Palmyra is the ‘State
tree’ of Tamil Nadu.
There are 318 km of waterways in
the city. Palmyra trees will be planted on either side of the Adyar,
Cooum and Buckingham Canal. The trees will also be planted on the banks
of 126 lakes and ponds in the city. The banks of the lakes and ponds
cover a length of 113 km.
“The palmyra trees planted
on the banks of the waterbodies will also help reduce soil erosion.
Chennai had a large number of palmyra trees in the past. Urbanisation
led to disappearance of the species. We will revive it,” said Mr.
Duraisamy. Palmyra does not require regular watering and would not be
affected by stray cattle, he added.
Chennai
Corporation will also support cooperatives that will create awareness of
the benefits of neera, palm jaggery and other nutritious edible palm
products.
More programmes will be formulated on
promotion of eco-friendly Palmyra products to help artisans associated
with such industries in the metropolitan area.
The
Chennai Corporation will also distribute 6.5 lakh red sandalwood
saplings to households with land suitable for planting such trees. After
the trees grow, the residents will be permitted to harvest the trees
for use.
The civic body will also take efforts to
facilitate statutory developments on using such trees by the residents.
The residents will have to plant a sapling at the same spot five years
before harvest.
Chennai Corporation will commence
distribution of 6.5 lakh nochi saplings to residents as part of mosquito
control initiatives. School students will receive 6.5 lakh papaya
saplings shortly.
Corporation plans to increase tree cover by planting 6.5 lakh palmyra trees by March.
