Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070450270100.htm

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‘Village gardens’ planned for Namakkal district

S. Ramesh

Hundreds of saplings will be planted in each garden

NAMAKKAL: The district administration has come up with a plan to create ‘village gardens’ to enhance the green cover in Namakkal district as part of a scheme to plant one crore saplings, the brainchild of District Collector U. Sagayam.

The administration will identify poromboke lands and wastelands in villages to create the gardens. Hundreds of saplings will be planted in each garden, to be maintained through the Rural Development Department.

“A number of villages in our State earlier had a concept of growing trees on lands belonging to temples. These gardens were called kovil thoppu [akin to a sacred grove]. As time passed, people have abandoned this practice. We are trying to reintroduce this concept, which will benefit future generations,” Mr. Sagayam says.

Initially, gardens will be created in 50 villages.

The scheme will be extended to other villages in a phased manner. “The primary objective is to raise awareness among people about the fragile environment and the need to protect it. Every citizen has the responsibility to protect Mother Earth,” the Collector says.

Over five lakh saplings have been planted under the tree plantation scheme. Schoolchildren, elected representatives and voluntary organisations have been roped in to plant saplings and maintain them.