Isha Pasumai Karangal (Isha Greenhands), an initiative of Isha Foundation here, is gearing up to plant 40 lakh saplings across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, as part of its plan for increasing green cover by 10 per cent in the State, this year.

The initiative was conceptualised in 2004 and nearly 3.2 crore saplings nurtured in 40 nurseries were planted across the State so far, a Isha release said today.

The saplings will be planted during 2017-2018, it said.

As part of the initiative, over 8.52 lakh saplings were planted on a single day in 2006, which had entered Guinness book of world records.

The initiative has also won Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Award and also Envionment Award form Union environment ministry in 2010, it said.