Bengaluru: Tree-lover techie walks the talk, aims to plant 10 lakh trees in 10 years

Bengaluru: Everybody talks about climate change, global warming, irregular monsoons and that we should save Mother Earth, but how many actually take it up as a mission to bring in a change? A techie-turned-tree man from the city is on a mission to plant 10,00,000 saplings within a decade by collaborating with immediate neighbourhood, educational institutions, government organisations and environmentalists.

Mr Seshu Ratnala, an employee of Accenture and founder of NGO Swetcha, said, “It is already late. Rising temperatures and water crisis are affecting each one of us in the city. Why are we still waiting? We have reached a point where we should start working towards saving Mother Earth to save ourselves.”
He has taken up the mission of planting saplings and has successfully planted around 2,000 saplings across the city within a month. He said that only a collaborative effort can translate the message into positive action.

‘Environmental Project’ in schools
Mr Ratnala has introduced the ‘Environmental Project’ at Narayana E Techno schools, where students not only plant saplings, but also maintain them. As part of the programme, story-telling sessions with environmental messages, awareness about organic growth of plants and a recording about the child’s contribution are also held. A trial in one branch of the school has influenced eight other schools from the Narayana group to introduce this initiative. He is now talking to engineering colleges to introduce the concept.

He said, “Deputy Mayor Ram Mohan Raju has tasked me with the task of planting 2,000 saplings in Bommanahalli. I will anchor the drive.”

In recognition of his service, he was offered a two-month course at the Environment Management Policy and Research Institute (EMPRI). Taking a sabbatical from work, he completed the course. As a student of EMPRI, he receives guidance from environmental engineers and has initiated talks with KSPCB officials to collaborate with their environmental drives.

Lake rejuvenation

He has associated himself with Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy, a well-known environmentalist, and has been part of tree planting drives as part of lake rejuvenation efforts at Bellandur Lake, Akshayanagar Lake, Vivekavana Lake, a Hoskote water body, etc.