A drive along the Palar river in Tamil Nadu is an evocative sight lined with hundreds of trees along the road. The air has a crispy freshness, and an serene landscape thanks to the lush greenery of the riverbed. As you drink in this view, it is fascinating to learn about the man behind it.
G. Srikanth from Gudiyatham, Vellore, grew up in nature’s cradle but later moved to Chennai for his job. Through the years, every visit back home would be disheartening for him as he watched the state’s rich natural legacy fading away before his eyes.
In 2017, Srikanth decided to lay the foundation for a positive change. He began by planting 1,000 saplings in the barren wasteland that outlined the Palar riverbed. Today, over 15,000 trees stand as a trophy of his dedication. Srikanth has been successful in turning the 25-acre deteriorating landscape into a vibrant canvas that boasts three forests, all while fighting the local land mafias who wanted to have sand quarries built in the area.
According to Srikanth, the land mafia would uproot the tress the evening that him and his colleagues would plant them. Almost 8,000 trees were cut off by this mafia. They would threaten him over the phone, call him to their office to intimidate him, and entice him with money to stay away from the land. They would even go as far to threaten his family.
But the adversities did not deter the passionate young techie from his mission. He planted over 15,000 trees across Vellore’s barren lands despite facing threats and opposition from real estate mafia and politicians. But his work is not over yet, as he aims to grow more ‘social forests’ across Tamil Nadu. His efforts were recognised by the District Collector who awarded him with even more barren land. Through his work, Srikanth has tried to spreat the message of how sustainability is important in the face of urban development