KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode district panchayat is set to take the schools through a greener path. The district panchayat has launched a new project named ‘Nattupacha’ to create bio-fences around the schools with indigenous plant varieties.
“The project aims at creating environmental awareness among the students and to build an eco-friendly school campus,” said Mr Babu Parasseri, district panchayat president. The official inauguration of the project was held at Palora Higher Secondary School on Tuesday. The programme will be taken to other schools in the district soon.
The ‘Nattupacha’ project encourages students to plant indigenous varieties of plants surrounding the school compound. It also aims at creatively engaging the students. They can bring plants such as hibiscus, gliricidia (sheemakkonna), drumstick tree and West Indian jasmine (Thetti) from their own surroundings to the school. The line of shrubs will create a fence around the school.
Bio-fences will help reduce pollution and promote a healthy, eco-friendly atmosphere in schools. Many of these plants have medicinal value. Less expensive bio-fences are helpful in controlling dust and for soil and moisture conservation too.
Some plants in the line have mosquito repelling capacities which will help prevent epidemics during the monsoon season. The bio-fences are also helpful in beating the sun during summer. The safe and sustainable bio-fences can be an alternative for many school compound walls in the district which are on the verge of collapse, Mr Parasseri added. The district panchayat plans to extend the project to government offices and public places in the coming months as part of promoting a greener district.
