Media Release
Mangaluru, May 8: In a landmark move toward making Mangaluru one of India’s greenest cities, Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M P, IAS, launched the Amara initiative on April 21. The campaign calls upon every citizen, institution, and organisation in the city to take responsibility for Mangaluru’s future by planting and nurturing trees.
"The prosperity of Mangaluru is inseparable from the care we give to its environment," said the DC, addressing a gathering of civic leaders, students, and volunteers at the launch event. Amara, meaning "immortal", is designed to give Mangaluru a living legacy through green cover and citizen participation.
A movement rooted in citizens
The initiative is a collaboration between the District Administration, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Forest Department, Education Department, and CFAL (Centre for Advanced Learning), with active support from civic groups, apartment associations, and schools.
The goal: plant over 30,000 trees across 60 wards and more than 1,00,000 mangroves along the coastline to combat heat, reduce carbon levels, and restore Mangaluru’s ecological balance.
Tree count that sparked action
The seeds of this movement were sown in 2023, when a Tree Count Survey led by Prof. Dr Smitha Hegde revealed that only 6.24% of Mangaluru’s public spaces had tree cover. This data became a call to action — not just for authorities, but for every citizen.
CFAL, along with the DC’s office and MCC, used this data to draft a ward-wise green plan, which is now open for all to participate in through the Amara platform.
How to get involved
Any individual, institution, or organisation that wants to contribute can:
• Register online via the Google Form : https://forms.gle/gZ4mkC3TJDrnXij18
• Scan the QR code available on the Amara brochure and posters
• Or simply send a message to 9448813823 / 9945924193 to receive assistance in registering.
Participants can choose to plant trees, adopt and care for existing trees, or even adopt entire wards. The tree locations will be geotagged and monitored via the Mangalore One app to ensure transparency and care.
Schools, civic groups, and companies step in
The Education Department is actively involving students, who will treat tree planting as part of their civic learning. NSS, NCC, Rotary, Lions Clubs, CREDAI, and NGOs are already committing to ward-level adoptions.
Organisations can also maintain nearby roads or public spaces using recycled water and volunteers, ensuring upkeep beyond the monsoon season.
Timeline of the Green Mission
• April 21: Official Launch of Amara
• May 15: Last Date for Ward Adoption
• May 25: Finalization of Tree Planting Sites
• June 5 (World Environment Day): Planting Drive Begins
• August 15: Audit & Public Report on Tree Health
'This Is your City. This is your time'
The Deputy Commissioner emphasised that Amara is more than a plantation drive — it is a grounding project for the entire city, meant to build community ownership and environmental accountability.
“This is our opportunity to write a different future for Mangaluru — one with clean air, shaded roads, and flourishing biodiversity,” he said. “Let’s be the generation that didn’t wait for change, but planted it.”
For more details or to participate contact:
Ashwini – 9448813823
Chaitra – 9945924193
Email – research@cfalindia.com