Singapore, 22 Jan

Kirtida Mekani, originally from Karnataka and one of Singapore’s most influential champions of environmental sustainability, community service and cultural heritage, has passed away at the age of 66 after suffering a massive heart attack at home.

A recipient of the President’s Award for environmental work and inducted into the SingaporeWomen’s Hall of Fame in 2024, Mekani’s legacy is woven into the island’s green spaces, community gardens, educational institutions and cultural landmarks, reported online tabloid tabla!

The sudden passing of the “Tree Lady” on 19 January has left a profound void in Singapore’s environment, arts and civic communities, which she shaped quietly yet decisively for over three decades.

Her husband Bharat Mekani told the tabloid, “Kirtida lived with a rare kindness and an unwavering sense of purpose.” SIFAS President KV Rao added, “Kirtida was a truly remarkable individual who endeared herself to everyone with her innate empathy for all living beings and the environment.”

Mekani’s proudest achievement was the Plant-A-Tree Programme, launched in 2007, which has plantedover 76,000 trees, introduced more than 200 native species and engaged over 1,00,000 participants.