Ganesh Kumar to launch scheme today Minister for Forests K.B. Ganesh Kumar will formally launch on Monday the Vanadeepthi scheme of the Forest Department at Pathupara under the Pathanapuram forest range. The scheme envisages rural afforestation by reviving natural forests. Vanadeepthi will be launched on a five-hectare spread at Pathupara. It was earlier a social forestry spread where acacia and eucalyptus were grown. These trees were recently felled and provided as raw material to Hindustan Newsprint Ltd. People living in the vicinity of Pathupara then wanted the green cover of the area to be revived with endemic trees and they approached Mr. Ganesh Kumar. Minister takes steps The Minister convened a meeting of forest officials to translate the plea into a scheme. That led to the idea of Vanadeepthi, which is being launched on an experimental basis at Pathupara. Social Forestry Department officials said that saplings of fruit trees, flowering trees, and selected forest trees would be planted in Vanadeepthi project areas. Depending on the success at Pathupara, the scheme would be extended to other areas of the State. The inaugural function will be presided over by Piravanthur grama panchayat president K. Jose. Kodikunnil Suresh and N. Peethambara Kurup, MPs, will speak. Chief Conservator of Forests K.A. Muhammed Noushad will welcome the gathering, and Assistant Conservator of Forests I. Siddique will present the report. To be launched on experimental basis at Pathupara Fruit and flowering trees, forest trees to be grown