Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would inaugurate on January 28, “Green pilgrimage to Rameswarm”, a comprehensive project aimed at providing a green and hygienic pilgrimage to about 1.2 crore people visiting the holy island every year.
At a brief function to be held at Satsang Bhavan in Rameswaram, Dr. Kalam would distribute tree saplings, deliver a keynote address and unveil a vision document of the project, implemented by Vivekananda Kendra under its Natural Resources Development Project (Nardep).
The Kendra expected the ambitious project would have cascading effect and provide a replicable model for all other pilgrim centres in the country, its office in-charge V. Sarasvathi said.
On the inaugural day, the Kendra would be distributing 500 tree saplings to the pilgrims and the local people to plant them in the island in the participatory programme, she said. “The project aims to make Rameswaram, the major pilgrim centre in south India, a green hygienic pilgrimage,” she said.
To commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Kendra had renovated the theerthams, the venerated water bodies in the island, most of which stood neglected and polluted, she said. “After months of dedicated work, VK-Nardep has achieved considerable progress in the renovation of the theerthams,” she said.
The renovation and maintenance of the theerthams was integrally connected to the island itself being made clean and green, she said, adding a preliminary survey done by the Kendra has revealed that a host of other areas have to be concentrated to achieve the task such as solid waste management and greening through tree planting, she said.
The Kendra had also identified other areas such as optimised water harvesting and management through rainwater harvesting, good sanitation, installation of renewable energy systems and preserving the flora and fauna of Rameswaram with relation to Gulf of Mannar biodiversity, she said.
Ref : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kalam-to-inaugurate-gr…
