Tiruchy Corporation targets planting of 1 lakh saplings, sets up nurseries

The civic body has been initiating various campaigns to get the ‘cleanest and green city’ tag and people from all walks of life have been roped in to promote the green drive in which the corporation plans to plant at least one lakh saplings across the city with 1,500 saplings in each ward.

To facilitate the sapling supply for the drive, the civic body has established two nurseries. “One of the nurseries, established at Viragupettai in an area of 10,000 sq ft, has cultivated over 20,000 saplings of flowering plants and shady trees. Similarly, another one has been established in Srirangam where the saplings are raised with seeds,” said City Commissioner N Ravichandran.

A fund of Rs 34 lakh has been spent for the nurseries and the civic body has planned to distribute the saplings free to people who would prefer to be involved in the drive. “We have roped in educational institutions and government and private offices for the green initiative. The saplings would be planted near public toilets, medians and along the roads,” said Ravichandran.

Claiming that establishing the nurseries to beautify the city with green cover is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Ravichandran said the civic body has targeted planting of one lakh saplings in a phased manner.

“This year, we have planned to plant 30,000 saplings, while 6,500 have been distributed to the residents on demand,” he added.