Fourteen years ago when Arangattil Velu Balakrishnan took to growing trees in the two barren hillocks in the vicinity of his house at Mankara, near here, his relatives and neighbours thought he was wasting his time. Once contemptuously called Madman’s Forests, Ayyar Mala and Chudiyar Mala in Mankara grama panchayat have now emerged as the green lungs of the region which was facing rapid urbanisation. The two hillocks are the only spots of perennial green in the area. 
Now at the age of 65, Mr. Balakrishnan has emerged over the years as a recognised environmentalist, who has planted more than 5 lakh shade and fruit trees across Palakkad district.
The trees adorn both sides of most of the roads and hundreds of residential compounds. A one-man army, he is ready to plant trees in any residential complex free of cost if the family agrees to take up the responsibility of nurturing it.  Better known as Kallur Balan in environmental circles, Mr. Balan had a humble beginning. After schooling, he became a toddy tapper and seller. He then he moved into small-scale business which resulted in losses. It was by chance, this activist of CPI(M) found planting trees as his life mission. “I wish to plant 1 crore trees in the district before breathing the last,’’ he told The Hindu. “I am not an earth crusader. But I wish to plant trees simply because I love them.  Many people are attempting to make the world barren. But I wish to see it green,” he adds. In residential compounds, he prefers to plant jackfruit, mango, guava, pomegranate, gooseberry and more. On the roadsides, he prefers banyan and neem.  His priority also includes planting medicinal trees and shrubs too.
Flowers grow in the spaces between the trees. In the beginning, he used a two-wheeler to carry saplings and tools to areas where his service was required. Apart from planting trees, he set a model for others to emulate by removing garbage and burying carcasses of animals. It was a part-time job with Forest Department that helped Balan meet his expenses initially. Moved by his dedication, a voluntary organisation in Malappuram donated him a jeep and ensured a monthly honorarium of Rs.10,000