Chennai Corporation to Beautify City; Invites Resident Welfare Associations for Tree Planting

The Greater Chennai Corporation is all set to beautify the city through a major beautification drive. The project will focus on overlooked areas that are lying neglected after infrastructure development.  

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in a meeting with civic bodies launched the beautification drive. The project will include removal of posters and debris, promoting of aesthetic landscapes, and waste-to-sculpture project.  

Marina Beach makeover 

Marina Beach is expected to get a makeover with more flowering plants, re-laying of roads, and development projects that will focus on maintenance of flora and art work in the median and road islands in about 150 locations.  

Reflection of Tamil culture 

Every revamped area is expected to showcase the uniqueness of Tamil culture, language, heritage, social values, literary works, archaeological aspects, and technological advancements.  

The government has issued orders that the beautification drive must prove to be cost effective. Plus, it has welcomed the efforts of resident welfare associations to participate in planting trees around.  

A meeting of residents’ welfare associations is scheduled this week to discuss in detail about the beautification drive and to invite suggestions and opinions. The government has proposed to implement landscape development with removal of posters and planting of flowering plants and tree planting with the support of residents.  

Contact number for tree plantation  

As per a tweet by IAS Officer Sharanya Ari, Central Regional Deputy Corporation Commissioner, “Residents’ welfare associations/organizations interested in tree plantation in their neighbourhood are welcome by GCC. If yes, kindly drop a message at +919445190698. We at @chennaicorp are ready to help you take it forward. #CentralChennai zones 6 to 10. ” 

As per the tweet, associations and organizations in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Ambattur, Kodambakkam, and Teynampet can use the above mentioned number for assistance. 

Geetha Ganesh of the A.G.S. Colony Residents’ Welfare Association said, “That’s a great initiative like corporation social responsibility (CSR). It is the residents’ social responsibility. We welcome it. We have already planted around 200 trees in our colony in 2017. As part of this program, we have decided to plant around 20 more.” 

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, the Corporation Commissioner, said, “We want the entire city to be beautiful; not only the developed core areas, but also the extensions. We have told that all the medians on roads should have flowering plants or crotons, which will look nice. All roundabouts should have green patches. A water fountain should be installed wherever possible.” 

He further added, “Residents’ welfare associations should plant trees in common areas and along the roads and maintain them. We want the public to take initiative. I have told zonal officers to bring in efforts of five residents’ associations every fortnight. This is besides what contractors do. The contractors should maintain flowering plants along road medians and water them regularly.” 

Mr. Bedi has ordered civic bodies to impose penalty on contractors who failed to maintain facilities at 700 parks. The list of parks that require maintenance will be made available within two days.  

As of now, the work of removing debris is already started in parks, roundabouts, and river banks.

Trees suitable for planting

The city corporation has provided a list of native trees that are suited for urban forestry and along avenues. You can find the list on the website of the city corporation.

The guidelines feature specific species of trees for each category of road, such as for narrow roads less than 7 m wide, for medium roads between 7-12 m wide and big roads that are more than 12 m wide. The list also features trees like Panai, which is a wind resistant tree and Vaadhanarayanan, which is a medicinal tree. It is recommended to be planted in parks.

The list also includes trees liks Poo Maruthu, Mantharai, Poovarasu, and Asoka. Along with this, you can find guidelines for ideal dimensions of the pit for planting saplings and dimensions of tree guard.

Interested in tree planting? You can visit the website for an application:

https://www.chennaicorporation.gov.in/