Noted environmentalist Pokkudan passes away at 78

Noted environmentalist Kallen Pokkudan, who played a crucial role in planting mangroves in various parts of Kerala, died at a private hospital following age-related ailments in Kannur today, hospital sources said.
78-year-old Pokkudan, a bachelor, was undergoing treatment at Cherukunnu Mission hospital for the past few days.
He had been involved in planting mangroves in different parts of the state since 1989 and had been motivating others in the same direction.
He planted thousands of mangrove saplings in his nearby wetlands in a mission to save the environment. His initiative had spread a revolution among the state and accentuated the importance of environment conservation.

A winner of 'Vanamithra' and 'Haritha Vyakthi' awards by Kerala Government for his environmental crusade, Pokkudan had also acted in a feature film, 'Papilio Buddha' directed by US-based Malayalee filmmaker Jaya Cherian.
He had also started 'mangrove school' to train the young generation about the importance of its conservation.