Make Kerala a carbon-neutral region through greenhouses: Chief Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 15: Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today said that Kerala should be made a carbon-neutral region by setting up greenhouses across the State. The CM said this while inaugurating the 1,261 greenhouses set up by the Haritha Kerala Mission in the state, through video conference.

In his address, the Chief Minister said, “Greenhouses are our great contribution to future generations. It is an achievement that as against the target of 1,000 greenhouses we were able to set up 1,261. At present, the greenhouses are spread over 454 acres. Every year more greenhouses should be set up in this pattern. It will be possible with the cooperation of local bodies and the people. 1,000 more greenhouses are to be established. If there is no public space available for this, interested persons should be encouraged to put up greenhouses in their place. The greenhouse project was able to create awareness about the need to nurture nature.”

Each greenhouse was setup by selecting plants suitable for each area. The first greenhouse containing rare herbaceous plants was established at Vengode, Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram with the help of the Botanical Garden at Palode. In some places, there are only bamboo shoots and in the backwaters and beaches, mangroves and allied trees were planted in the greenhouses. The stalks have expanded and green stems have come creating a visible change in the habitat in the last one year. The greenhouses of the mangroves in Kumarakom have made a positive difference to the fishing ecosystem there. The plants are maintained for three years as part of the project.

Shri C Divakaran, MLA planted a tree sapling at the 1,261st greenhouse completed at Nedumangadu block in Thiruvananthapuram district. Dr T N Seema, Executive Vice-Chairperson of Haritha Kerala Mission and people’s representatives were among those present on the occasion.