Over 75,000 saplings planted in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: Every second child who returned from school brought home a sapling on the occasion of World Environment Day on Monday. The Thiruvananthapuram city corporation alone has distributed around 10,000 saplings through the aided and government schools. Elsewhere, at St Xavier’s College, Thumba, cine actor Mohanlal planted a Banyan tree. Much similar to his explanations on the benefits of the Banyan tree in his movie Vadakkumnathan, he spoke about the virtue of tree and expressed hoped that thousands will breathe fresh air as it grows up.

Around 150 saplings were taken out of the ‘Suvarna’ mango tree in front of city corporation building. Trees were being planted at public places and schools based on recommendations from experts, the mayor said.   As per rough estimates by social forestry officials, over 75,000 saplings were planted in city areas alone on the day. At Police Headquarters, T.P. Senkumar headed planting of Neem, Gooseberry, Portia tree, Tamarind, Guava and Laxmi Tharu. At Cotton Hill School, the students, teachers and parents brought out handwritten documents mapping the type of trees on the campus.