MGNREGS workers to be engaged for raising one lakh seedlings of native species in Pudukottai

Administrative sanction has been accorded by the district administration for raising one lakh tree seedlings of native species in Pudukottai by engaging workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The Forest and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj departments will be jointly involved in this task for the 2025-2026 year through convergence of the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, being implemented by the Forest department, with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

The cost of raising one lakh seedlings of different heights is about ₹73.91 lakh with maximum fund allocation to be done by the Rural Development department.  The seedlings would be raised at the Forest Extension Range nursery at Thoppukollai, central nursery farms of the department at Keeranur, Thenur, Kurumbur, and Olaikudipatti besides at the nursery farm of the Rural Development department at Veeradipatti.

Preparatory work will begin at the nursery sites next month by engaging the MGNREGS workers, a Forest department official said. Formation of germination beds and collection of earth and manure form part of the preparatory work at the nurseries. Collection of seeds would be done from the Forest Genetic Division in Coimbatore and from other sources.

The raised seedlings would be maintained at the nurseries in bags till such time they were sent for planting at the chosen spots. The pitting work would commence in August or September 2026 and the actual planting would be done coinciding with the northeast monsoon in October-November next year, the official said. 

The seedlings would be planted on tank bunds, roadsides, government lands, community lands, educational institutions, and government offices. This is the second year that such an exercise is being carried out by engaging MGNREGS workers in Pudukottai district, the official said. The Forest department would provide expertise and the techniques to the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department in planting techniques at the chosen locations.