Dooming Kuppam goes green

CHENNAI: They say, catch them young, and they can do wonders. It is perhaps with this in mind that Tree Bank, a voluntary organisation involved in planting saplings and creating awareness about global warming, has initiated a green drive at the Chennai Corporation Anganwadi in Dooming Kuppam, Santhome.According to C Mullaivanan, founder of Tree Bank, the drive was part of their initiative to use NSS student volunteers from the Alpha Arts and Science College, Porur, to spread the message.Thirty saplings, comprising flowering plants such as mahogany, hibiscus, exora, green root, asoka as well as bamboo were planted on the school premises during the drive that was initiated with the support of the Chennai Corporation. The event saw young student volunteers and inmates of the neighboring destitute home run by the Chennai Corporation roll up their sleeves and kick start the green drive here on esteemed politician and former Chief Minister Kamaraj’s birthday.Speaking to the City Express, Mullaivanan said that the adverse effects on global warming can only be controlled if citizens adopt plants and promote greenery.Tree Bank has 1,500 volunteers in the city who have been active in 155 divisions of the Chennai Corporation. The tree plantation drive is carried out by volunteers who supply the seeds, saplings, tools and manure to the organisation to support its objective. It launched a mobile service this year where in interested residents can register their names at the mobile vans stationed in city parks. The vans were stationed at the Anna Nagar Tower Park during the first week of the month, at the Adyar Poonga during the second week and at the KK Nagar Sivan Park the following week.“The Tree bank vans with a ‘Green Kalam’ banner will be stationed outside the parks from 8am to 10am on weekends. If residents require special varieties of plants, they can register their demands at these vans so that we can make arrangements,” he said.“Residents can not only adopt the plants at these mobile banks, but also donate plants if they cannot take care of them. This initiative has been a huge success,” he said.