Coimbatore Corporation along with a few non-government organisations (NGOs) has started a greening drive around Singanallur tank.
The drive was kick-started by Mayor P. Rajkumar in the presence of Corporation Commissioner K. Vijayakarthikeyan and representatives of NGOs.
Sources said that the civic body, Green Global Trust, Agni Siragugal, Sixth Sense Foundation, Inner Wheel Club of Coimbatore and Animal Rescuers will plant 2,000 saplings in the coming days.
Vinny R. Peter of Animal Rescuers said that the objective was not only to increase the green cover around the tank but also to increase the biodiversity.
The saplings they would plant would include palm, vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) and trees representing 120 native species.
The objective was to protect palm whose number was on the decline.
If palm were to be destroyed, the dependent animal/bird/insect species would also suffer.
To arrest the decline, albeit in a small way, the organisations would plant on the inner slope of the tanks and vetiver to stop soil erosion.
And the other native species would be chosen keeping in mind what suited birds, bees and butterflies, she said.
At present there were only 100 trees near the tank.
Corporation sources said that the drive would continue in the coming weeks.
