C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC) in collaboration with the District Administration, Ramanathapuram has taken up the task of creating a sacred grove on seven acres of land belonging to the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowment Department, Government of Tamil Nadu at Mangala Theertham in Thangachi Madam village, Rameswaram, under the aegis of the District Collector.
The identified land was first cleared of thorny bushes, weeds, prosopis using a JCB. A well of 20 ft. deep was dug at the site. In order to regularly water the site, CPREEC has placed water tanks (1,000 litre capacity) at 10 places to store the water which are inter-connected with a PVC pipeline across the site. The District Administration has constructed a shed to house the motor which draws water from the well for watering the site. After the site was cleared and leveled, pitting was carried out. Salt tolerant species were selected for planting. CPREEC has formed a Navagraha vanam, Rasi vanam, Nakshatra vanam, a herbal garden and planted several tree species. The number of saplings planted at the site is given below: