33-acre dumpyard to go green

COIMBATORE: A 33-acre ground which was once used as a dumpyard is likely to turn into a large green space in a year or two. Siruthuli, along with GE Oil and Gas, planted 4,500 saplings of Indian trees across a 10-acre portion of the ground on Tuesday evening.
The 33-acre ground just off the Nallampalayam Road has been a nightmare for residents of Sabari Garden and Kashyap Layout, two residential colonies in the area."We would never be able to walk by the ground because it would stink.
People would be seen dumping garbage from areas across North Coimbatore," said Kulandaisamy, a resident.
Residents finally approached their ward councilor Venthamarai Baalu, who got them access to former MP P R Natrajan's funds. A compound wall was built around the ground and the garbage was removed using grant of Rs20 lakh, said Kulandaisamy.
The initiative will see only Indian species of trees, which includes fruit bearing trees, being planted. "The ground will have more than 21 species of trees including pea, banyan, guava, jackfruit, neem, tamarind and gooseberry," said K Mylswami, project co-ordinator at Siruthuli. "These native species are well suited to Indian conditions, have a low mortality rate and grow fast," he added. "To make their maintenance even easier we have installed a watering system connected to a borewell we have sunk. So when it is switched on water from the well will be directed to each sapling pit through tubes," he added.
The function to launch the planting, which saw students from Agricultural University, CMS School and Railway Police Force participating, was attended by Vanitha Mohan, managing trustee Siruthuli and divisional railway manager Subhranshu.