Chief Minister Stalin launches tree planting drive in temples

Saplings will be procured through the Forest Department

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday launched a scheme to plant one lakh sthala vriksham, tree saplings, at temple nandavanams (gardens). He planted a sapling of the Nagalinga tree at the head office of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department in Nungambakkam. Sources said that this was the first time a Chief Minister had visited the HR&CE Department’s head office. Mr. Stalin directed officials to plant the saplings within three months. An official said 200 saplings of nine varieties of trees, including Bilva and Punnai, had already been distributed to temples in Chennai. Temples have specific trees as sthala vrikshams.