Coimbatore: An awareness campaign about the importance of preserving the forests was conducted in Kothagiri which witnessed the active participation of students from Pioneer College of Arts and Science, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalai of Arts and Science and Christ King Engineering College.

The dignitaries included Road Transportation Officer R Thyagarajan, Forest Ranger S Selvaraj and Tahisildar Rangarajan apart from doctors, advocates, members of medical shop owners association and labour unions, social activists of Mettupalayam and Mettupalayam Consumer Protection Organisation.

The event was organised by Mettupalayam Save Bhavani Trust whose joint secretary M.l Jaikumar said, “We came to know that plastic bags, bottles left by tourists were cleaned between Ramasamy nagar forest check post and Kotagiri fourth hair pin bend. Around 400 people were involved in this cleaning process. An additional 50 members were seen removing nails and advertisement boards from trees between Ooty and Kallar. Polybags and bottles were collected in a vehicle provided by the Mettupalayam municipal corporation.

Ranger Selvaraj explained how plastics stopped rain water from entering the soil. “These plastics around or in the forests are sometimes consumed by animals which disturbs their biological systems. Students were told about how plastic spoilt the environment,” he said. Importance on reporting cases of forest fires was also highlighted.

People from 28 organisations, six NGOs and 300 students were involved in the cleaning process.