The Chartered Accountant has sold his house to fund his passion for planting trees.
CA C.M. Venkatesh is a native of Chamarajanagara, been fond of trees since childhood. Cutting down of thousands of trees by the PWD authorities in 2016 for the widening of roads left Venkatesh heartbroken as Chamarajanagara was rendered bald.
In the past five years, Venkatesh has planted more than 8,000 trees within the town and on the outskirts. They include Honge, Bevu, Hebbevu, Devagana, Akasha mallige , Basavanapada, and other species. Now the trees have grown up to 5-10 feet tall giving cool shade to people at Sampige Road, Chamarajanagar Jodi Road, Deviation Road, Court Road, Sampi Road, Railway Station Road, District Ambedkar Stadium, Central College, and other areas.
Venkatesh takes such loving care of the trees that he deploys water tankers in summer to nurture them. However, his service to nature has driven him into debts. He has spent lakhs of rupees from his own pocket. Last month, he even sold his only house for Rs 22 lakh and repaid the loans, and moved into a rented house.
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