To combat urban heat and improve air quality, the Tiruchi City Corporation is creating a Miyawaki forest at Sriram Nagar Park in Tiruvanaikoil.

The 3,575-sq. m. site has been transformed into a dense urban forest with the planting of 10,000 saplings. The plantation includes 26 varieties of native trees, comprising shade-giving, flowering, fruit-bearing, and environmentally beneficial species such as neem, pungai, iluppai, and jamun.

The project has been implemented under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of KRT Motors and Hero, which funded the plantation. All saplings have been provided with drip irrigation, protective fencing, and systematic maintenance to ensure healthy growth.

Dense mini forests using the Miyawaki technique are being developed across all five zones of Tiruchi through the joint efforts of the civic body and volunteers. Suitable locations include public parks, roadside spaces, riverbanks, tank bunds, and other public spaces, where native tree species are being planted in large numbers.

Compared to conventional plantation methods, the Miyawaki technique enables trees to grow up to ten times faster, allowing the area to develop into a self-sustaining natural forest within a relatively short period.

In its 2026-27 budget, the civic body has earmarked ₹15 crore from its General Fund for the initiative, allocating ₹1.50 crore for each Miyawaki forest.

Officials said 10 locations have been proposed across the city’s five zones, with two parks in each zone to be selected for developing Miyawaki forests based on the availability of sufficient land.

Corporation Commissioner Veer Pratap Singh, officials, sanitation workers, volunteers, and residents took part.

Published - August 01, 2026 06:27 pm IST