Tiruchi district has been given a target of planting four lakh palm seeds under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission during 2026-2027 fiscal, involving Forest and other line departments to enhance green cover and control soil erosion.

The Forest Department began the palm seed dibbling programme in M.R. Palayam reserve forest near Tiruchi on Tuesday involving school and college students. A total of 1,000 palm seeds were dibbled at identified locations within the reserve forest.

A Forest Department official said apart from M.R. Palayam reserve forest, palm seed dibbling would be done in Nedungur and Maniyakurichi reserve forests in the district, besides in other suitable locations belonging to the department.

The seedlings would be planted around the water catching area inside the reserve forest and the activity would coincide with the monsoon season. The plan was to complete the target by October, the official added.

The initiative was being implemented to control soil erosion, strengthen green cover, support biodiversity and conserve water resources. Under the district-level palm planting initiative for 2026-2027, the target set for the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department was 50,000 palmyrah seeds, for Horticulture Department 10,000 seeds and for non-governmental organisations three lakh seeds, the official said.