The Salem Railway Division planted 1,500 saplings at the Electric Loco Shed here on Thursday, adopting the Japanese ‘Miyawaki’ method that helps build dense, native forests.

Divisional Railway Manager U. Subba Rao along with Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer Sathiya Rathan, and Senior Divisional Engineering (Co-Ordination) Perumal Nandalal inaugurated the sapling planting drive on a three acre land. Under Phase-I, 1,500 saplings were planted. More saplings would be planted under various phases.

Miyawaki method

The ‘Miyawaki’ method ensures that the plants grow 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual. The officials said that native species that need no maintenance after three years were selected for the mini forest project. The DRM said it was the first project of the division and added that the initiative would be followed in all the stations and railway colony areas of the division.

This project was implemented with the help of Virutcham Foundation, Erode Round Table 98, and Elangavi, Member, Zonal Rail Users Consultative Committee.