Palmyrah seeds sowed in various locations in and around Vellore five years ago by green activist Dinesh Saravanan, who recently won the TN Pollution Board’s Green champion award, have reportedly had 95 per cent success in growth, while seed balls of various plant species broadcast in hilly areas have had a success rate of 60 per cent.

“Similarly, a small forest project in the Vellore Central Prison, where 2,000 plant species were planted some time ago has succeeded as most of them now stand around 5 feet tall,” Dinesh Saravanan told DT Next.

However, social activists, who help him, were galled that neither elected representatives nor the Vellore district administration offered any help for such greening initiatives. “We have broadcast around 6.20 lakh seed balls on hills around Sathuvachari, Palamadhi, Chenganatham, Pallikonda and Pernambut and are happy that 60 per cent have sprouted as most seed balls fell in inaccessible locations,” said an activist preferring anonymity.

Of the 48,300 palmyrah seeds planted by his team mainly on the banks of the Palar in Vellore district at a cost of Rs 20,000 “most have grown well” he added.

Funded by the 10,000 followers on his Facebook page, Saravanan said that while it felt good to help the community by building smart classrooms in various panchayat union primary schools in outlying areas, “panchayat presidents wanted all schools in their areas to be provided similar facilities.”

Winning the green champion award offered him recognition and it resulted in some panchayat presidents helping him get workers for his greening efforts through the 100-day scheme. “So now manpower for my green initiatives is free and I spend money to collect seeds and transport them to various locations,” Saravanan added.