Date:08/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100858100300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Trees for tsunami victims’ houses

Special Correspondent

To improve the green cover in Nagapattinam

GREEN: Collector M. Jayaraman giving away a sapling at a function in Sirkazhi as part of Wildlife Week celebrations.

SIRKAZHI: Each of the nearly 20,000 permanent houses for tsunami victims will be provided with a tree to improve the green cover in the district, Collector M. Jayaraman said here on Tuesday.

Speaking at the concluding day celebrations of Wildlife Week at Vivekananda Nehru Matriculation Higher Secondary School, the Collector said that after the tsunami there was increased awareness to provide a green belt in the district to reduce the effect of natural calamities.

He said that works had been taken up at a cost of Rs. 1.15 crore to increase forest cover in the area, half a km from the coast. He also said that SHGs and individuals would be encouraged to increase the tree cover in the district through various schemes.

Prizes given

The Collector later distributed prizes to children who had participated in the speech and painting competitions as part of the Wildlife Week celebrations.

V. Thirunavukkarasu, District Forest Officer, said that the district administration would concentrate on preserving the bio-diversity. A. Ambalavanan, senior district leader and organic farming enthusiast, said that human greed was destroying nature and, if unchecked, it could result in humanity’s downfall.