Afforestation drive begins in Coimbatore

Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan (third left) at a drive organised by Forest Department in Coimbatore on Tuesday. Khadi Minister K.Ramachandran (left), Forest Minister N. Selvaraj (second left), Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy (third right) and Mayor Mayor R. Venkatachalam (second right) are in the picture

Forest Minister N. Selvaraj on Tuesday planted saplings on Tidel Park Road at Peelamedu and commenced a drive for planting one lakh saplings in Coimbatore to mark the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held from June 23.

Education Minister K. Anbazhagan, Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Khadi Minister M. Ramachandran and Mayor R. Venkatachalam took part.

Mr. Selvaraj later held a review meeting at the Collectorate on the measures being taken for planting the saplings. He told reporters that Siruthuli was providing 55,000 saplings, Isha Yoga 20,000 saplings and the Forest Department 10,000 saplings. All the saplings would be planted this month. At the planting stage itself, people would be motivated to ensure that the saplings survived.

The Minister also said that a committee of officials was being formed to inspect the saplings every month and ascertain their status to ensure high survival rate. The species planned for Coimbatore were from the shade bearing variety namely Vembu, Vagai and Pungan.