KOTTAYAM: For four hundred years she stood high, giving food and shelter to birds, spreading fragrance in the air and giving shades to pedestrians. She stood as an umbrella to the earth below not forgetting her roots. The Spanish cherry (Scientific name: Mimusops elengi), commonly known as Elenji at 17th mile here along NH-183, quite possibly the biggest Elenji in Kerala, is finally getting the respect she deserves as the state Forest Department along with Vazhoor panchayath will be honouring the tree at 10 am on 29th.
The functionaries of Swagathasangham, a society formed for the conservation of ‘Elenji Muthassi’, said in a press conference here that Forest Minister, Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the function by honouring the tree. In 2013, people of Vazhoor had honoured and thanked this tree.
A forest exhibition is also arranged, for the children to experience the beauty of the forest, as part of the function. Anto Antony MP will inaugurate the programme, which will be presided over by N Jayaraj MLA. Principal chief conservator of forest B S Corrie, S Seetharaman and others will participate.
An award organised in the name of the tree as Elenji Muthassi Environmental Award will be announced in the function.