PALAKKAD: The Palmyra trees (Karimbana), the symbol of rural Palakkad, are felled in large numbers and sold to brick kilns in Tamil Nadu as firewood for many years. The NSS unit of Gover-nment Chittur College has embarked on a mission to regain the palms symbolising the region’s topography. They lay Palmyra seeds with a target of 2,000 palms in and around the college along with other places in the district reeling under drought conditions in almost all the summer seasons.
A study conducted by Pondicherry University had found that a Palmyra helps store 10,000 to 20,000 litres of groundwater during rains due to the speciality of its trunk and deep roots. “Farmers see them as obstacles on the ramps of paddy fields and farms," assistant professor K. Pradeesh, who is the NSS programme officer, said. “The district witnessed rampant chopping of the palms and the trunk is sold to brick kiln agents in Tamil Nadu for just Rs 50 to 100 without knowing the ecological value of the tree that bears palm fruit or ice apple.”
The students had laid nearly 1,000 seeds on the bund of the Malampuzha Canal from Manamkulam near Thenkurissi to Aanappuram last year. Out of them, 878 palms sprouted. Getting motivated from this, during the World Environment Day last week, the NSS unit with over 80 members planted 1,008 seeds along the state highway from Manamkulam to Koduvayur. “The palm seeds sprouted last year have now grown nearly one foot, and roots four feet deep," assistant professor K. Jayanthi of the college said. "We collect the seeds from Karippode region here as palms are grown there for toddy tapping. Environmentalist Syam Kumar of Thenkurissi also provided us with seeds.”
