The Tiruvallur district administration has begun planting 1 lakh palm seeds along the bunds of ponds and banks of water channels. As the soil needs to be moist for the palm seeds to germinate, the months of October and November have been chosen for the plantation drive.
The seeds need about two months to germinate, and if planted during the monsoon, they would not require watering, said an official. A total of 15 channels, running to a length of 136.80 km, will receive the palm seeds. Similarly, 224 ponds in 14 blocks are to get the seeds that have been received from Ramanathapuram.
Ponds in Ellapuram and Gumidipoondi will get the highest number of seeds, and channels in Minjur and Gummidipoondi will be the primary targets for the seeds, officials said.
“These ponds and channels were restored using government and CSR funds, and planting seeds would strengthen the bunds and banks once the trees grow. They will help anchor the soil and keep it from getting washed off in the rains,” said an official. The seeds have been procured at a rate of ₹1.50 per seed, along with the transportation cost.
District Collector M. Prathap, who launched the drive, said that the district needed over 2 lakh seeds, but in the first tranche, only around 1 lakh were being planted. “Our district still has many people, especially in Pulicat, who make handicraft items from palm leaves. We hope that when they grow, these trees will help improve their livelihood,” he noted.
Published – October 29, 2025 06:52 pm IST
