Citizens restore green cover

The depleting green belt around IIT Powai and Aarey Milk Colony has got a fresh lease of life.The citizens have joined hands with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to make sure that around 200 transplanted trees around the area have at least 90 per cent survival rate, reports Bhavika Jain.

The depleting green belt around IIT Powai and Aarey Milk Colony has got a fresh lease of life.

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The citizens have joined hands with Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to make sure that around 200 transplanted trees around the area have at least 90 per cent survival rate. The 300 trees transplanted in Aarey Milk Colony two months ago have already begun sprouting leaves.

“When there is transparency, constant interaction and effective monitoring, it leads to a positive change,” said Elsie Gabriel, one of the five members of the citizen monitoring committee set up by the MMRDA to monitor the widening and improvement of the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR).

“In 2002, we had transplanted around 82 trees at Aarey, but very few survived. This time, we carefully selected the site and provided security employing locals,” said Vikas Tondwalkar, head of environment department, MMRDA.

A total of 258 trees would have to be cut during the road widening work and 300 would be transplanted. The MMRDA will plant 3,000 Astonia all along the route.