We, the Public and Volunteers of ARAN, an NGO based in Sriperumbudur are creating an urban forest at Boodherippandai Village, 4 km from Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram District, Tamilnadu in a Town Panchayat owned Land of about 7.5 acres Survey No's 1381-1B, 1382-4 and 1383-4 along with the support from Sriperumbudur Town Panchayat. The first 2000 saplings were planted on 24th August 2019 in collaboration with SankalpTaru and Sriperumbudur Town Panchayat. Around 4000 trees are being raised in the fenced area for almost 2 years and are now exclusively maintained by the Volunteers of the ARAN team.

Here we are raising about 60+ varieties of tree species which include 50 native species and we have recorded around 43 varieties of Butterflies, 40 varieties of Birds, 6 varieties of Snakes, and many more organisms in this Urban forest to date. We have also constructed 3 waterholes in this urban forest to save water and improve biodiversity. We named this urban forest 'Ezhilvanam'. We are in the process of initiating a people movement to save this Sriperumbudur urban forest Ezhilvanam for future generations.

Importance of Ezhilvanam:

1. Sriperumbudur being an Industrial Hub, Ezhilvanam plays a major role in controlling the Industrial Pollutions.
2. It will play a major role in preventing global warming and conserving the environment.
3. It will increase the green cover of Sriperumbudur.
4. It will improve the annual rainfall and underground water level of Sriperumbudur.
5. It will increase the biodiversity of Sriperumbudur.
6.  Ezhilvanam with lots of Plants, Trees, Birds & many other organisms will be alive study material for School Students and Science graduates.
7. 3 Bore-wells inside Ezhilvanam act as a major water source for Sriperumbudur town.
8. It will become the biggest priceless asset of Sriperumbudur both Economically & Environmentally in a few years.

It is shocking to know that a proposal has been made now to construct an RTO office in this Urban forest. Lakhs of rupees have been spent and volunteers have spent more than 600 days in the last two years to create this Urban forest. As pollution is getting increased in the Industrial town of Sriperumbudur, growing Trees become necessary to balance the environmental impacts of Industries.

Please be informed that we have already reported to the District Collector on 08th, Feb 2021 to declare this area as a protected one. We also wrote a petition to Sriperumbudur Revenue Divisional Officer on 22nd Oct 2020 for the same (Reg post no. RT233537680IN). On behalf of the Sriperumbudur public, I request you to take necessary action to stop destroying this growing urban forest for any matter and protect this urban forest for the welfare of the public. Looking forward to your immediate action. Trees are becoming more and more important everywhere. We should be focused more on planting new trees, but trying to destroy the existing trees seems ironic.

Do join hands together with us, Sign this petition and be a part of Saving this priceless Urban Forest.

Save Ezhilvanam, Say No To RTO Office at Ezhilvanam