CHENNAI: In an initiative to create more green space, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has roped in several volunteers and a city-based non-governmental organisation Nizhal to plant more saplings in the corporation park and roadsides.
According to GCC officials, corporation maintains around 16 parks in the city and maintenance works are being taken up at regular intervals. In order to increase green cover in all parks, they permit certain volunteers and NGOs based on their track record for taking up works.
Shoba Menon, founder of Nizhal, a city-based organisation, which is taking up green work, said that they create strong awareness among the locals about tree plantation and green cover in the parks and other areas in their locality. “The GCC is helping us in identifying parks, which lose green space. Recently, we undertook work in Kotturpuram corporation park and roped in local community, because they should know about green space,” she said and added that they would soon identify one more corporation park, which has lost sheen.
“When I earlier saw this park, it was in shambles with tree branches blocking the pathway. However, things are opposite now, as this park gives a new look with green cover. So, I joined the volunteers, who are involved in increasing green cover,” said a Bala, a resident of Kotturpuram.
When a senior corporation official was contacted, he said that they were taking up work like tree plantations and cleaning parks. “Even as corporation workers are taking up maintenance works, we roped in volunteers and NGO to plant saplings. Further, such works will be taken up in all corporation parks in a phased manner. So, volunteers can approach the GCC,” the official said.
