The twin goals of Exnora Green Cross's Vellore Hills Restoration Project is to bring back the greenery to the hills of Vellore and generate employment in the process. Vellore is the hottest town in Tamil Nadu despite being surrounded by hills and having the Palar River running through it. With Palar being dry most of the time and the hills being denuded by activities such as deforestation, cattle grazing and forest fires, the water table has decreased and the most of the top soil has been washed away. To reverse these effects, percolation ponds will be dug across the hillside to trap rainwater and soil bunds strengthened by planting suitable vegetation arrest soil erosion. Coir and organic manure generated from the ongoing zero waste programs will be spread on rock sheets on the hills to create initial vegetation. Plant species native to the hill range and wild fruit trees will be planted, which will attract birds and animals. Guided nature tours for students will generate additional income. Various awareness measures will be undertaken to educate the public about the need to protect the vegetation on the hills and active forest protection measures will be undertaken to protect the hills.

The brainchild of AID Saathi C.Srinivasan, this project will attempt to create a healthy forest on the hill ranges, which will increase the water table, and bring down the temperatures in Vellore.