An innovative sapling project from RC Kangra

If you drink nariyal pani (tender coconut water) in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, you wouldn’t have to throw away the shell. RC Kangra, RID 3070, under its environmental protection campaign is giving out succulent and shallow root plants to the tender coconut vendors in the city who fill the emptied coconut shell with soil, coco peat or husk and plant a sapling on it for you to take back home and grow.

“We have received outstanding response for this project,” says club president Sunil Dogra, adding that “the best part is that the coconut shell plant is given free. All you have to do is take it back home and water your shell plant which can be grown into a quirky garden.”

Since coconut shells are biodegradable, they make a fine medium for nurturing saplings which can be transplanted easily into the soil along with the shell after sometime. “Coconut husk is an excellent medium as it contains sugar, minerals, amino acids and vitamins,” says Dogra. Inaugurating this eco-friendly project, DG CA Davinder Singh appreciated the club for its innovation to usher in a clean, green environment.

On the first day of the project, the club had given out over 5,000 saplings. “The club will follow up with the local vendors and give them saplings as and when they exhaust their stock of plants,” adds Dogra.