The CPI (M)-led government in Kerala has initiated a project aimed at enhancing the green cover of more than 3,000 temples under the management of five Devaswom Boards. The initiative also focuses on preserving water resources by renovating abandoned temple ponds and safeguarding the sacred groves spread across the state.
The government’s recent endeavor marks a significant shift from its earlier stance on temple-associated forests, known as ‘Kavus,’ and temple ponds. In the past, the same political party had advocated for the cutting down of trees in these sacred forests, dismissing them as centers of superstition. They had also advocated for the filling of ponds near temples.
Dubbed as ‘Devankanam Charuharitham’ (Beautiful Green Abodes of God), the project will be implemented in more than 3,800 temples managed by the five Devaswom Boards across the state. State Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan officially inaugurated the project on June 5, coinciding with World Environment Day, by planting a sapling in the courtyard of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) headquarters.
K Ananthagopan, the President of the Travancore Devaswom Board, confirmed that an order outlining the project’s details had been issued and circulated to all devaswom boards in the state. The initiative seeks to improve the green cover around temples, promoting a healthier environment and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. It also focuses on restoring and rejuvenating temple ponds that have fallen into disuse, emphasizing the significance of water conservation.
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