“Grow trees, Grow with trees”, “If you betray nature, nature will betray you” – so went the slogans as the Green Marathon, a rally to create awareness of green technologies wend its way via the main streets of Thanjavur on Sunday.
The rally, in which thousands of people participated, with young people dominating the length, was flagged off by N.Ramachandran, vice-chancellor of Periyar Maniammai University and chairman of Green and Clean Thanjavur movement, T.B.Uma Devi, dean of Thanjavur Medical College, M.Mohammed Iqbal Basha, district forest officer, Group Captain Sushil Gera, commanding officer of Thanjavur Air Force station, Radhika Michael, blood bank officer of Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, P.Gandhi, district sports officer and Padmanabhan, vice-president of Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Students, lecturers and staff of Periyar Maniammai University, NSS and NCC members of the college, Members of Youth Red Cross, Indian Red Cross, Nehru Yuvakendra, Exnora, Walkers Associations of the town took part in the rally. A kolattam and silampattam troupe led the procession.
The rally culminated at the ITI grounds near Kundavai Nachiyar Arts College. Later nearly 2,000 saplings were planted at Thanjavur Medical College complex. B.Ramalingam, Principal District Judge, inaugurated the tree plantation at the Medical College. Sapling were also planted at the District Forest Office complex and Air Force station housing quarters.
V.Varadarajan, president, Brahan Natyanjali Foundation; Muthukumar, secretary, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH); Ayyavoo, Registrar, Periyar Maniammai Univesity; K.Swaminath of Exnora and Ambujam, former dean of Thanjavur Medical College, participated in the tree plantation.
Mr.Ramachandran said that the saplings planted will be taken care of. This is only a prelude and the green movement will continue. Pamphlets on the need to protect the environment were distributed by the Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Saplings were supplied by Periyar Maniammai University, Lions club of Ancient City, Sivachidambaram Pillai and sons. Mr. Ramachandran said that an international conference on green technologies will be held at Periyar Maniammai University from July 27 to July 30. Former President A. P. J.Abdul Kalam will inaugurate the conference.
People were exhorted to avoid use of plastic bags, maintain environmental hygiene, harvest rain water, and implement solid waste management techniques.
