Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi marked the milestone of her 100th weekend round on Saturday by participating in a tree plantation programme along the bund of Velrampet Lake.
The morning rounds, aimed to promote a ‘Swachh, Healthy and Prosperous Puducherry,’ had been launched with the cleaning of the Grand Canal on June 5, 2016.
Ms. Bedi’s visit to Velrampet was a follow-up of her inspection on June 26 last year in response to media reports on the ecological deterioration of the lake due to dumping of garbage and open defecation. A concerted effort by various government agencies, including the Public Works Department, Municipality and Forest Departments, along with civil society organisations and other stakeholders, had focussed on mass cleaning and de-silting campaigns. Thereafter, the perimeter of the lake was fenced to prevent garbage dumping and open defecation.
The 100th weekend round featured a mass tree planting drive with active collaboration of schools, colleges, commercial establishments, hospitals and volunteers from NCC and NSS.
The entire stretch of the bund of Velrampet lake was segmented and each stretch allocated to Saradha Gangadharan College, Aravind Eye Hospital, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Naturals, Pondicherry Heritage Round Table 167 and local self-help groups of Velrampet for planting the saplings and watering them regularly.
According to a press statement from the Raj Nivas, creepers have been planted along with the fenced portion of the lake. The Forest Department and Agriculture Department provided the saplings and the Puducherry Municipality, PWD officials and Police Department extended support for the tree plantation programme.
About 225 volunteers participated in the programme and 475 saplings were planted along the bund of the lake.
Calls for support
Ms. Bedi noted that the fund deficit for carrying out such activities could be bridged by active participation of the civil society to supplement the efforts of the government agencies.
The Lt. Governor also visited the Thulakkanathamman Temple and offered prayers.