Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu conducted its 451st green drive near the Madukkarai Reserve Forest Range at Pillaiyarpuram where volunteers carried out maintenance of over 20,000 trees planted on a once-barren land developed into a thriving green cover. Those willing to volunteer can contact 80157 14790.
Coimbatore: Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu, one of Coimbatore's leading environmental NGOs dedicated to restoring lakes, ponds and expanding the city's green cover, conducted its 451st green drive at Pillaiyarpuram, near the Madukkarai Reserve Forest Range, on Sunday.
The NGO took up greening this site a couple of years ago after securing the necessary permission from the Forest Department. The land, which had been handed over to the Forest Department by a private party as settlement land, was largely barren. With the required approvals, the organisation began transforming the unused land into a green cover through a sustained afforestation initiative.
Speaking about the initiative, R. Manikandan, founder of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu, said the organisation has planted more than 20,000 saplings of various native species at the site over the past two years. The plantation has been carried out in partnership with a private company that has been extending financial support, while the NGO has been undertaking regular maintenance to ensure the healthy growth and survival of the trees.
As part of its 451st green drive, the volunteers did not plant new saplings. Instead, they carried out maintenance work by removing weeds, shrubs and dried grass and pruning activities around the existing trees, which compete for nutrients and hinder their growth. Manikandan said such maintenance activities are carried out regularly alongside plantation drives to improve the survival rate of the saplings and sustain the green cover created over the years.
He appreciated the volunteers who dedicate their weekends to environmental conservation and said that greater public participation and volunteer support would help the organisation achieve even better results in expanding Coimbatore's green cover.
Volunteers, including college students who participated in the drive, said spending their weekends on environmental activities made their time more meaningful. They noted that collective efforts by citizens can create a lasting positive impact on society and help build a greener future for generations to come.
Healthy food and refreshments were provided to the volunteers after the drive. The organisation also appealed to the public to join its upcoming green initiatives and contribute towards protecting the environment and enhancing Coimbatore's green cover. Those willing to volunteer can contact 80157 14790.