Mini Forest Development Project Launched in Sivakasi under the Initiative of MDMK Principal Secretary Durai Vaiko
Under the initiative of MDMK Principal Secretary Mr. Durai Vaiko, ministers inaugurated a Mini Forest (Miyawaki method) development project at Sivakasi.
The project to develop a mini forest was planned by the MDMK at Viswanatham village near Sivakasi. The work was formally inaugurated by Ministers K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Thangam Thennarasu, and Durai Vaiko, among others.
MDMK General Secretary Mr. Vaiko has consistently led struggles, supported by scientific evidence, against the environmental damage caused by Prosopis juliflora (Seemai Karuvelam) trees. Through court interventions, he obtained orders for their removal and actively worked towards restoring affected lands. Following the same path, Durai Vaiko, driven by love for the people and the land, initiated preparations for the mini forest development project.
In Sivakasi, often referred to as the “land of fire”, an organization named Viswavanam has been actively functioning. The organization restored a water body that had silted up due to encroachments and enabled water conservation once again. Upon learning about their efforts, Durai Vaiko personally appreciated the organization and assured support whenever required.
Subsequently, members of Viswavanam informed that 32 acres of land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department had been severely degraded due to encroachments, dumping of garbage, and the spread of invasive trees. They expressed willingness to plant and maintain trees if the land was entrusted to them. Responding swiftly, Durai Vaiko initiated arrangements for the project, assisted in converting Viswavanam into a registered trust, and facilitated a meeting with the concerned minister, Mr. Sekarbabu.
With the support of MDMK members and volunteers, encroachments, garbage, and Seemai Karuvelam trees were removed from the land. A borewell was installed, and drip irrigation facilities were set up. It was on this restored land that the Miyawaki-style mini forest development work was inaugurated today.
Addressing the gathering, Durai Vaiko stated that while one may move to another town, district, or even another country if dissatisfied, there is no alternative place to live apart from this Earth. He emphasized that protecting Mother Earth is the responsibility of every individual. He added that if such work could be accomplished voluntarily without holding any position of power, it was certainly possible for everyone.
While the project aims to plant one lakh saplings using the Miyawaki method, 1,500 saplings were planted in the first phase today.
The event was attended by MDMK MLAs Pudhur Boominathan and Sathan Thirumalaikumar, Congress MLA Ashokan, and several party members and volunteers.