On Ellaiamman Koil Street in Vannandurai, residents are woken up by a ‘pre-set call’ every morning. It’s not the collective chirps of birds, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s the grating sound of a hand pump being worked and the roar of a Honda Activa carrying the collected water. It starts at 5 a.m., and seems to go on ad infinitum .
Nobody, however, has reported this to the authorities; nobody ever will. For, they know who does this and what for.
Forty-seven-year-old M.V. Murthy waters the saplings he has planted on M.G. Road and surrounding areas, in this manner. Between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., he does 23 trips ferrying water from the hand pump to those parts of the afore-said areas where the saplings are found.
For the last three years, he has been executing this chore, without a break. Most of these saplings are protected with tree guards, which carry his name ‘Pasumai’ Murthy and phone number.
“It’s not vanity that has led me to give my name, but a desire to help anyone who may want a sapling or a dying sapling to be be revived,” says Murthy who works as assistant manager with Ramaniyam Builders.
Sundays are set aside for planting saplings.
“If I find a resident or shopkeeper who promises to water the saplings planted in his area regularly, I’ll be spared the trouble of making these trips. Otherwise, I have to do those trips,” he says, adding that he is currently nurturing 73 trees in areas such as Sastri Nagar, Palavakkam and Pallikarnai.
Over 20 saplings he had planted outside Besant Nagar church premises are now on their own, but Murthy still checks on them occasionally.
“During my field work, whenever I notice a stretch devoid of greenery, I plant a sapling there. But, I focus more on areas in and around MG Road,” Murthy says, adding that this monthly outlay for his green work is around ₹5,000.
He provides water not just to saplings. For thirsty commuters, he has kept a pot of water at the Vannandurai bus stop.
Murthy is concerned about depleting water levels in the city but says he will not stop taking care of plants. His work has won him the appreciation of many people.
Recently, he received an award and a title ‘Pasumai Aarvalar’ from a voluntary organisation.
For Murthy though, a word of appreciation is as good as an award.
“Elderly people bless me when they see me watering plants on their street. The vendors on Vannandurai often thank me for having planted the trees that are now providing them with a shade under which to carry their businesses,” says Murthy, who is thankful to his wife Priya and daughter Megha for motivating him to do this work.
Murthy can be reached at 72990 22269, 91710 7094 9.
