Thane, 1st May 2010
HARIYALI’S MEGA SEED-SOWING PROJECT, JUNE 2010
Hariyali has been working in the field on environmental protection and up-gradation for about last fourteen years and has become a world-famous environmental organization doing constructive work. Major focus is on implementing massive afforestation schemes, water conservation and rainwater harvesting projects and generating environmental awareness amongst the masses through all possible means. Emphasis is more on peoples’ participation, Shramdan with a focus on students of all age-groups.
For last several years it has also been distributing seeds amongst Warkaris (Pilgrimants to Pandharpur), devotees of Sai going to Shirdi on foot, hikers, trekkers, etc, for sowing all across the route of their commutation. Number of seeds of assorted species of forest-friendly trees so distributed over a period of time has now exceeded a crore and fifty lakhs. Response from all sections of the society has been tremendous and results of such activities are visible at several places.
Hariyali is now planning to distribute and actually sow more than a crore (ten millions) seeds of assorted species of forest-friendly and avenue trees over a length of about 350 k.m. of National Highway No. 3 (Mumbai-Agra Road) starting from Thane to Dhule during the period from Friday, 25th June to Sunday 27th June 2010. It intends to involve lot many environmental and social service organizations, senior citizens, mahila mandals, students from schools and colleges and other nature loving and socially conscious citizens from towns and villages situated all across the route in this noble task. Co-operation is also being sought from the Highway Authority and the Contracting Firms who were involved in the road widening project on this sector. Thousands of trees were uprooted during last few years as part of the road-widening work. Hariyali proposes to make good this loss of nature to the extent possible by undertaking and implementing this Mega Seed Distribution and Sowing Project as its humble contribution on the State completing fifty years of its formation.
Participation of citizens and other organizations is expected in the form of Shramdan, collection and distribution of seeds, implements, sponsorships, voluntary donations, actual participation in and supervision of the work, etc. Apart from making its own collection of seeds through peoples’ participation, Hariyali also intends to buy seeds required for this project from the Joint Forest Management Committees, Tribal Development societies, forest Department, etc, at a reasonable cost. Lot many people from the Corporate Sector are also expected to participate in this project.
The species of trees whose seeds Hariyali intends to sow include karanj, kanchan, giri pushp, neem, gulmohor, rain tree, bahava, mango, jamun, amla (all local names), etc. It is also proposed to procure and sow seeds of several medicinal plants and bushes, flower shrubs, etc, depending upon local conditions.
Hariyali intends to impress upon the minds of the road contractors and local people to take care of trees that may grow out of this mega exercise. Past experience of the Organization shows that the percentage of survival would vary from 5% to 90% depending upon the level of participation, rainfall, biotic interference, etc, in each sector of the region. The trees would take about three to five years to show substantial growth. It may be necessary to repeat the exercise for next two more years to achieve 100% results.
It is proposed to form a committee of technical persons having long-standing experience and academic knowledge in the field apart from a co-ordinating committee for the entire project. Major towns on the route after Thane are Bhivandi, Shahapur, Khardi, Igatpuri, Ghoti, Nasik, Ozar, Pimpalgaon, Chandwad, Malegaon and Dhule. Hariyali feels confident that it has and can seek necessary expertise, competence, co-operation and participation of people on the scale that implementation of the project requires.
Organizations and individuals desirous of participating in the implementation of the project are requested to contact the organization through Shri Punam Singavi, founder President and Project in charge on <9323291890> and/or punamsinsingavi@mtnl.net.in or hariyalithane@yahoo.com .
Punam Singavi
