Chennai Corporation invites residents to plant a tree on a memorable occasion

Chennai: As part of its efforts to increase the green cover in the city, the Chennai corporation has come up with a novel idea. It is planning to invite residents to plant a tree on a memorable occasion in their lives. While Chennai should ideally have 33.33 per cent of green cover, it currently has only 6.25 per cent. “Abroad, there is a practice where members of the public are allowed to plant a tree at an identified location for the purpose, at their own cost,” says Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy.

“The public, as a remembrance of their near and dear ones or on the occasion of their family member’s birthday or wedding day would plant trees. The idea has been planned to introduce here soon on the Open Space Reservation (OSR) lands.”Apart from this, plans are on to create a ‘zodiac sign’ park with 12 trees corresponding to the respective signs and a ‘birth star’ park with 27 trees corresponding to the respective stars, in every division of the city.

Explaining the status of the ongoing tree census, a corporation official said the enumeration process began 10 months ago and it would be completed in the next couple of months. Announced in the Chennai corporation budget in 2014, the tree census will not only help in maintaining and preserving existing greenery, but will also give an idea on what type of trees are needed to improve green cover, balance the climate and to plan accordingly.

This will also help in the better implementation of government projects. Tree census will improve the green cover up to 10 per cent, officials added. Trees which were above 10 feet were counted. Sources said the local body, as part of the census was involved in identifying indigenous trees. After the study, it is expected that such trees would be planted in burial grounds, parks, government institutions and offices.

Local residents are also encouraged to give details of indigenous trees in their neighbourhood and about its history. Besides efforts to enhance green cover, the Chennai corporation was also finding ways to evolve a ‘green solution’. The herbal ‘nochi’ plant, which will naturally kill and prevent mosquitoes in the households are grown at the ‘My Ladye’s Park’ and distributed free of cost.