50L saplings to create rural biodiversity spots in Vellore

In a bid to make rural habitations in the district biodiversity spots, the administration here is mulling over the planting of around 50 lakh saplings of various species in such areas, Collector A Shanmuga Sundram said on Wednesday.

Launching a scheme to desilt the Anpoodi irrigation tank here and also create rainwater harvesting structures within the Chinnapallikuppam irrigation tank at a cost of Rs 33 lakh, including Rs 20 lakhs received under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Collector said planting of saplings would start next week and would be with the Rs 2-crore aid the district administration had received from various industries under CSR.

The creation of biodiversity spots would ensure that the birds, which were now absent, would return and help in pollination, which in turn would spread vegetation in rural areas, the Collector said. Shanmuga Sundram also encouraged to plant Arjuna trees near waterbodies owing to its medicinal properties. Those present at the event included TWAD MD CN Maheswaran, SBI Chennai chief general manager Vinay M Douse and Chennai general manager Shirley Thomas.