Pasumai Nanbargal (Green Friends), an organisation working for clean environment and greenery, has launched its maiden field work of cleaning up the premises of Government district headquarters hospital here, which has been upgraded as medical college hospital.
There is indiscriminate growth of ‘seemai karuvelam’ (Prosopis juliflora) trees and bushes inside the hospital complex, especially behind the mortuary and nurses’ hostel.
Members of the organisation, led by its coordinator G. Thirumurugan, launched the exercise on Wednesday. Pressing into service earth movers, around 40 volunteers removed the trees and bushes after obtaining permission from the hospital authorities and informing the district administration.
“We want to clean up the entire complex and promote greenery by planting saplings of environment-friendly trees,” he told The Hindu .
When the organisation approached the hospital authorities, it was told that the Public Works Department was taking care of maintenance and cited shortage of funds.
When the hospital authorities said the organisation was free to take up the project, the members mobilised funds and launched the work, he added.
“We will level the area after getting rid of the wild growth. We are happy that some college students and social activists have joined us in the clean-up work,” Mr. Thirumurugan said.
They also plan to clear wild growth on the premises of Sethupathy Government Arts and Science College and Women’s Arts College.
