Mayor M. Subramaniam inaugurating the scheme to plant saplngs in the name of babies born in the city.

Mayor M.Subramanian on Friday launched a scheme to plant saplings named after babies born in the city.

He said a total of 41,471 saplings in the names of children born since September 15, 2009 till date will be planted by the Chennai Corporation.

In a year about one lakh saplings would be planted, which would add to the city’s green cover.

The saplings would either be planted in the homes of the children or if space is not available in nearby parks or open spaces. The tree guards would bear the names of the babies and the parent.

Saplings of ‘Pungai’, ‘Poovarasu’, ‘Mathi’, ‘Vembu’ and ‘Naval’, which are nearly 7 feet tall, are being planted. The responsibility of nurturing the trees falls on the parents, who get a certificate stating how the plant has been named after their ward.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said that zonal offices have been directed to plant saplings every month based on the number of births. Saplings that are planted on Corporation grounds would be taken care of by the civic body.