Sri Vijaya Puram: Little Andaman is witnessing a quiet green revolution. As part of the District Administration’s Green Action Plan, the tehsil has planted over 30,000 saplings across the island in a large-scale afforestation drive aimed at mitigating climate change and increasing green cover.
Led by Assistant Commissioner (AC) Mahesh Kumar Gupta, DANICS, the administration has been steadily executing eco-restoration and plantation initiatives across degraded forest lands, government campuses, school premises, and community spaces. What sets this effort apart is the tech-savvy approach, over 14,000 saplings have been geotagged using mobile-based tools, allowing for remote monitoring and survival tracking.
“This isn’t just about planting trees – it’s about ensuring they survive and contribute to the environment,” AC Gupta stated. “We want to create a culture of long-term ecological responsibility, not short-lived events.”
The Green Action Plan also encourages participation from the local community, especially students. A series of awareness sessions were held in government schools to educate children about environmental responsibility, the perils of deforestation, and the importance of biodiversity. Students were given opportunities to plant and ‘adopt’ trees, instilling a sense of personal ownership and pride.
In tandem with the plantation efforts, the administration has also promoted eco-friendly alternatives such as reusable cloth bags to curb single-use plastic. Hundreds of cloth bags were distributed to local shopkeepers, school children, and senior citizens, reinforcing the message of sustainable living.
Moreover, the government departments themselves have set the tone by switching to in-house composting using kitchen waste and promoting paperless working through digital tools. Government vehicles have also begun transitioning to ethanol-blended fuel to reduce carbon emissions.
The administration plans to continue these efforts throughout the year with an emphasis on survival monitoring, maintenance, and documentation. Authorities have also invited locals to participate by submitting plantation ideas and volunteering for community greening projects.
With the global climate crisis looming large, Little Andaman’s initiative could serve as a replicable model for other island and coastal communities aiming to strike a balance between development and environmental preservation.
