NRI CA Lokesh Puthran & His Trust all set to Make ‘Mangalore Bloom’ using the Dubai Concept
Mangaluru : Among the many NGO’s who are trying their best to make Mangaluru Clean and Green, here we have yet another NGO by the name of ” Girija Charitable Trust (R), Mangaluru all geared up for their project “ MANGALORE BLOOM” with a green environment initiative that was launches at Lady Hill Junction on Sunday 2nd June 2019. The Trust has been organizing many charitable works for the last 15 years, like distributing books and Scholarships to many Poor Students. The Founder Chairman of the Trust is Chartered Accountant Lokesh V Puthran, who is the brain behind this initiative. Being a resident of Boloor in the City, Lokesh has been the Senior Partner of Puthran Chartered Accountants, Dubai for the last four decades.
Now one of the Philanthropic Object of this Trust is to beautify Mangalore by planting Colourful Flower Plants on the Centre of the Road dividers so that it looks beautiful and charming to the eyes and relaxes the mind. The project was launched on Sunday, with beautiful flowering plants being planted in the middle of the road dividers, thus giving the road a green look. As per their first phase flower plants will be planted from Mannagudda School to Lady Hill Circle; Lady Hill to Urwa Market, and from there to Koragajja Temple; and inside Rajaji Park-Town Hall.
The inauguration ceremony of “ Mangalore Bloom”, took place on 2 June, where Shree Ekagamyananda Swamiji of Ramakrishna Math graced the occasion by lightening the lamp along with other distinguished guests Rev. Fr. Stany Pereira,Parish Priest Urwa Church, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, L.S Linge Gowda, Executive Engineer Mangalore City Corporation, C.S Rajshekhra Hebbar C, Principal, D.P.S.P,First Grade College Mangalore, CA S S Nayak, Chandrashekhar Shetty, Chairman Sanathana Natyalaya , Smt Jayanthi Achar, Ex- Corporator Mannagudda Ward, Smt Latha K Salian, Ex- Corporator Boloor Ward, and Nullipady Vittobh- President, UFCA.
Inn his inaugural address Ekagamyananda Swamiji said, “Beautifying Mangaluru is everyone’s dream, and here we have a committed citizen of Mangaluru CA Lokseh Puthran who with his love for his birth city has come forward to beautify it by planting flowering plants around the key points in the City. When PM Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharath Abhiyan in 2014, the very next year Ramakrishna mission took up the initiative in launching the Swachh Mangaluru Campaign, and we are happy that the project has brought awareness, if not fully but to the maximum-the only thing required for a 100% success of Swachh Mangaluru, people should change their mindset. When someone is coming forward to implement a project in beautifying the City, MCC should oblige in giving them permission without any hassles. I am glad that MCC has given the go signal to Girija Charitable Trust in their efforts to make Mangaluru Bloom with green flowering plants. Ramakrishna Math will always be ready to cooperate with this Trust, whenever they need us”.
Fr Stany Pereira also speaking on the occasion said, “It’s sad to note that the environment is losing its balance, because by this time there should have been rains. Seems like global warming has affected us, but let us pray to God that we may get rains soon, before people face more hardship getting water for drinking and other purposes. Puthran and his Trust have come up with a unique idea of beautifying the City, which we all should commend and appreciate their concern for the environment. Even our Mangaluru Diocese Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha has urged all the Catholics to plant saplings, and the announcement about this project has been made in the Churches in the City and district. If Girija Trust needs the support of our school children, I will be happy to oblige-because the support of everyone is important to make a project fruitful and successful”.
Other dignitaries also spoke, and expressed their appreciation and extended their support to CA Puthran and his Trust,, in order to make “Mangalore Bloom” successful. Spaeking on the occasion, CA Lokseh Puthran said, ” For the past four decades serving as CA in a firm in Dubai, I have seen how Dubai has been converted from Desert to colourful Garden City throughout the year. When our Prime Minister had started “Swatch Bharath” in 2014, I decided why not transform Mangaluru into a beautiful green City with colourful flowers and greenery. Sapling swill be planted on the centre of the road dividers at various locations, and depending on the water availability we may also plant flower pots on the either side of the road without causing inconveniences to the commuters. A group of Trust volunteers, other like-minded persons and a nursery will nurture these saplings. I look forward for the support from the citizens of Mangaluru to make this project successful, thereby making Mangaluru look like Dubai, when it comes to greenery”.
The programme was compered by Ms Deeksha Rani, and after the formal programme, the dignitaries and the guests joined in planting saplings on the road divider near Lady Hill junction. Let “Mangalore Bloom” turn this City into a colourful and green Smart City!
