Nature enthusiasts to sow one lakh palmyrah seeds

Volunteers of Kovai Kulangal Padhukaapu Amaippu collecting seeds of Palmyrah for the massive palm planting drive in Coimbatore.

While the State tree of Tamil Nadu is slowly vanishing from the urban and rural landscape, a group of nature enthusiasts in Coimbatore are toiling for a ray of hope for palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer).

Volunteers of Kovai Kulangal Padhukaapu Amaippu are currently procuring palmyrah seeds from various parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The organisation is aiming to sow one lakh palmyra seeds in the city before the onset of the North-East Monsoon.

“We are planning to sow the seeds on the bunds of lakes, forest boundaries, and on the sides of anaicuts, ponds and canals connecting the lakes. We have approached the Public Works Department and the Forest Department for permission,” said R. Manikandan of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu.

Mr. Manikandan said that arrangements are being made to sow the seeds in the first and second weeks of October.

Permission sought

The organisation has sought permission from the PWD to sow seeds on the bunds of Sengulam, Perur Periyakulam, Sottayandikuttai, Ganga Narayana Samudram, Pudukkulam, Ukkulam, Chinnavedampatti Lake, Vellalore Lake, Achankulam and Kannampalayam Lake.

However, the massive planting will not be done on the banks of eight tanks that are covered under the lake development project of the Smart Cities Mission.

Natural wall

The organisation will approach the Forest Department for permission to sow seeds on forest boundaries. Once grown up, palmyra palms will act as a natural wall preventing elephants from straying into human habitations.

The organisation has, so far, sourced seeds from Gobichettipalayam, Tirupur, Dharapuram, Malumichampatti, Pollachi and Kerala.