The Budding Citizens Organisation in Puducherry has taken up an initiative to plant saplings across Puducherry region.
On Monday, the organisation got two saplings planted near Vinayagar temple in Mudaliarpet to mark the launch of the programme.
Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy inaugurated the event by planting a neem sapling near the temple.
S. Devi Priya, president, Budding Citizens Organisation, said it was intended to create awareness among people about their responsibility towards the environment.
“People are aware of environmental issues. But they are not coming forward to water and safeguard the plants. Our work is to involve public by creating awareness and encouraging them to water the saplings and protect them. We felt there is a need for attitudinal and behavioural changes among young citizens,” she said.
Ambitious target
Ms. Priya said the organisation comprising doctors and engineers, who were all residents of Puducherry, would carry on this work. “This is just the beginning. We have planned to plant saplings throughout urban Puducherry wherever the space is available. These saplings will be planted on either side of the roads,” she said.
The organisation started in 2013 was planning to join hands with the Public Works Department (PWD) to implement a pilot project on rainwater harvesting in Lawspet.