Parts of Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s residence, will be open to public on Friday and during weekends for a few hours.
Visitors will be allowed inside the Durbar Hall, main lawn, presidential suite, various gardens, and get a glimpse of the forest beyond.
Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, who released a coffee-table book on the flora of the Raj Bhavan in Chennai and Ooty, said he had been surprised by the rich green cover on the premises.
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“It was an experience to me. I have never come across red sandal wood tree. I assume the sandal wood trees are worth crores of rupees. I assure you they will be well-protected by the security of the Raj Bhavan,” Mr. Rao said, during the ceremony to throw open his official residence to visitors on Wednesday.
He appreciated the students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University who had identified the plants in the Raj Bhavan and helped bring out the book.
According to a plaque unveiled on the occasion, the premises was home to 152 species of trees. It housed 7,158 trees, including hundreds of ‘false Ashoka’, neem, coconut, mango, coppor pod, pungam, palmyrah, and tamarind.
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The Raj Bhavan would be open for public viewing on Fridays and during weekends from 4.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mr. Rao commissioned the Raj Bhavan’s online registration system at www.tnrajbhavan.gov.in. Registered visitors would be sent an SMS and an email informing them of the acceptance.
The visitor must bring an ID proof and a copy of the email during the visit. A guided tour would be given to the sections open to the visitors.
Mr. Rao, who was the Chancellor of universities, earlier planted a sapling at Anna University, to launch a massive greening drive on university campuses. He praised Bharathiar University and its affiliated colleges for planting 14,000 trees. and called on industry to increase green cover by allocating 2% of the their Corporate Social Responsibility funds for the purpose.
A 400-kw solar grid solar power plant has been installed. It will generate 6 lakh units of electricity a year and is expected to meet about 75% of the energy consumption at the Raj Bhavan. Statues of Tiruvalluvar and Avvaiyaar will be installed. The latter will an athichudi engraved below to enable children to practise writing.