[1]The concept of establishing tree banks is fast catching up in Chennai.
Concerned over environmental degradation, the Indian Telugu Association (ITA), Chennai, has decided to observe Gandhi Jayanthi by launching its tree bank, aiming to distribute one crore native plant species throughout South India.
“We will fill the cities with thousands of saplings in the coming days. Unlike others, we are focused on distributing native plant species, which are fruit bearing and shade oriented,” says ITA founder-president B. Nagesh. Through the initiative, the ITA hopes to enter into Guinness Book of world records.
The ITA’s tree bank nursery at Sri City will raise ten lakh saplings of varies species including banyan (Ficus Benghalensis), fig (Ficus Carica), sacred fig (Ficus Religiosa), neem (Azadirachta Indica), Almond (Prunus Dulcis) and Black berry (Syzygium Cumini).
“Imagine the good work we done by us when we raise these trees that would give fruits to feed hungry birds, monkeys, squirrels and all living beings,” Mr. Nagesh said and added that about 50,000 volunteers from several educational institutions would be enlisted for this five-year mass sapling plantation programme.
As to why he has chosen Oct. 2, Mr. Nagesh says that Gandhi Jayanthi is the most patriotic day in India and more over October is the appropriate season to take up transplantation.
Earlier, at a function in the city on Tuesday, Ravi Sanna Reddy, chairman and MD, Sri City SEZ, Sulurpet, inaugurated the tree bank. G. A. Rajkumar, additional chief secretary, state government, B. Murali Kumar, commissioner of Income Tax and others participated.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/3tree-seedlingjpgcropdisplayjpg-015