KOCHI: In a unique initiative, the Eroor Island Welfare Association (EIWA) has joined hands with the Forest Department and the Railways to turn a five acre waste dumping yard into a green lung which would be come as a breathing space for the people in Vyttila. The five acre plot is 1 km away from the Vyttila Mobility Hub on the Vyttila-Ayyambillikkavu Road and is owned by the Railways. This was earmarked by Railways for taking sand. After taking sand two craters were formed here.
"However, the entire space fell into disuse which we are now converting for productive use. Already Vyttila and Edappally have been identified as having high carbon content and we thought of creating a second Mangalavanam here. Railways have agreed to turn the turn the craters into areas for collecting rain water and make use of it. The Forest Department has agreed to create a garden here," said Girija Vallabhan P.M., general convener of the EIWA and C.J. James, a senior railway official.
They said that a total of 250 saplings were planted on the inaugural day on Sunday. "A total of 2000 saplings, majority of them belonging to fruit-bearing trees will be planted on the five acre plot in the coming days. An area here having marshy land will have mangroves. Ayyambillikkavu Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi and Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad have agreed to take care of it," said DFO Martin Lowel.
