Chennai: Hamam Green Puthaandu, powered by The Hindu Group, is a neem-tree-sapling activity initiated to help 10 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu that were affected by Cyclone Vardah. This initiative began on 14thApril 2017, Tamil New Year’s Day, and will go on till June 5, 2017, World Environment Day. 
According to reports, the damage borne by the State during Cyclone Vardah and the December deluge, has led to the loss of over two lakh trees in Chennai and surrounding districts. This activity, therefore, targets such localities and helps rebuild the ecosystem.
Based on a recent research conducted by the Forest Survey of India, the forest and tree cover in Tamil Nadu spreads over 28,710 sq kms. This amounts to 22.07% of the total geographical area, while a 33.33% was envisaged in the National Forest Policy of 1988. This resulted in a necessity to increase the tree cover of the State.
Understanding this need to provide green cover to the coastal districts affected by Cyclone Vardah, Hamam Green Puthaandu has been planting neem trees from April 14 across Tamil. The inauguration was attended by top government officials from the district, environmentalists and nature lovers, with each of them planting a sapling in the area. The following regions of Tamil Nadu will benefit from this initiative:
The regions of Tamil Nadu that benefits from this initiative includes Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Cuddalore, Tanjore, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur.
