‘முத்து நகர்‘ என்று அழைக்கப்படும் தூத்துக்குடி தென் தமிழ்நாட்டின் கடலோர நகரம், முத்து, உப்பு, பனை போன்றவற்றுக்கு பெயர் பெற்றது. இந்த நகரம் பசுமைக்காகவும் பெயர் அடைய 6 ஏக்கர் பரப்பளவில் E.F.I தருவைகுளம் வனம் ஒன்றை அமைக்கும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளது.

Thoothukudi, often referred to as the “Pearl City,” is a coastal city in southern Tamil Nadu. With a rich maritime history dating back to the 6th century, this port city has been a center of trade and commerce for centuries. Even today, Thoothukudi remains as a significant commercial seaport in southern India. Being a part of the Pearl Fishery Coast, the city is known for its pearl fishing and shipbuilding industries.

Located 10 kilometers north of the city of Thoothukudi amidst the coastal sand dunes taken over by Seemai Karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) lies a dump yard spanning over 570 acres of land along the Tharuvaikulam Road. The site receives a significant amount of garbage from the ever expanding population of the city and is situated less than 2 kilometers from the coastline.

From Trash to Trees: A Dumpyard’s Green Transformation

In collaboration with the Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation, we are working on a transformative project to convert a dump yard into a thriving coastal jungle.

The Tharuvaikulam Plantation is located in Keela Arasadi village and spans a total of 25 acres. The plantation area is surrounded by hundreds of acres of prosopis juliflora, solid waste management plant and a municipal fertilizer plant.

Once a dumpyard, this land is being converted into an plantation area with an area of 6 acres being worked on. Deweeding of invasive weed species such as prosopis juliflora was carried out to promote the growth of native vegetation. The land was then leveled for plantation.

Trenches were made with a network of plumbing pipes to ensure a constant supply of water. A total of 3600 native saplings such as neem, Pungamia, Vagai, Pepel, etc have been planted in the 6-acre area to start with.

Listen to the Voices of the Plants

A neem sapling whispered, “I was so small, so fragile. But they planted me with care, as if I were a precious treasure.”

A peepal chimed, “It was a strange feeling, being placed in the ground. I’d never known anything but the nursery before.”

“As native saplings, we belong to this land,” declared the vaagai sapling. “Let us unite to protect our home from the encroaching menace of invasive species like Prosopis juliflora.

“Let’s grow tall and protect our coastal city. Our growth is crucial for the city and countless creatures, from tiny insects to majestic birds who call this place home”, added a pongamia.

A Promised Green Future for Tharuvaikulam

The future of Tharuvaikulam holds promise for a greener landscape, as plans for planting 25,000 saplings are underway. Through the dedicated efforts of the community and the Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation, we are taking significant strides towards a greener future.

The saplings planted will not only transform the city’s landscape but also create a lasting legacy for generations to come. This initiative by E.F.I and Thoothukudi City Municipal Corporation demonstrates the power of community action and the potential for positive change for a Greener Thoothukudi.

# BlueGreenThoothukudi

Volunteer for Thoothukudi and her Environment with E.F.I