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Green Mumbai idea takes root
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a part of its drive to turn the city greener will be spending Rs 60 crore on an ambitious green project. One lakh saplings will be planted throughout the city in the first week of July, reoprts Bhavika Jain.
The city is all set to get greener, that is if civic officials are to be believed.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a part of its drive to turn the city greener will be spending Rs 60 crore on an ambitious green project. One lakh saplings will be planted throughout the city in the first week of July.
Every ward office will be given Rs 50 lakh to develop a green spot in the ward and another Rs 50 lakh for its maintenance.
“Since many trees have been cut to give way to development projects in the city this will be like compensating the loss,” said Mayor Shubha Raul.
To make sure that freeloaders do not ruin the trees and gardens to be developed, the civic body will invest Rs 10 crore for the security and the maintenance of these green spots.
Emphasising on the importance of medicinal plants about 30 per cent of the one lakh saplings to be planted will be herbal. Saplings of hibiscus, aleo, amla, adulsa apart from mango, ashoka, coconut and subabul will be planted.
This year the civic body’s garden budget is Rs 365 crore and from it over Rs 18 crore will be spent on developing concept gardens and theme parks.
Saplings will be available for purchase from the BMC at Re 1 each, so that citizens can plant their own trees. Furthermore, the corporation is also contemplating charging Rs 3 or 4 more and giving buyers a sack of manure with it, so they can take care of the tree as well.
But Mayor Shubha Raul expressed her concerns about freeloaders ruining parks and advised that all of them must carry an entrance fee.
“Just look at the Shahid Vijay Salaskar Udyan — a park on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road — and how it has been ruined because people enter the park for free and damage it,” said Raul on Wednesday.