Mayor roots for terrace gardening

With the dearth of open spaces in the city, Mayor Shubha Raul has proposed that every household should opt for terrace gardening and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is to provide incentives for it.

With the dearth of open spaces in the city, Mayor Shubha Raul has proposed that every household should opt for terrace gardening and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is to provide incentives for it.

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Raul has promised financial assistance from the BMC to housing societies, developers and builders who adopt terrace gardening and shift to an eco housing system. This requires the societies to use solar energy, carry out rainwater harvesting, waste segregation, sewerage processing, water recycling and tree plantation.

Terrace gardening is convenient because it can be executed even in the little space of a balcony, or windowsill. Vegetables, herbs and fruits can be planted or even fruit bearing trees if the space is adequate.

The Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, a government aided science institute in Sion, has promoted one such initiative.

During her visit to the institute Raul said, “We would encourage the practice of terrace gardening in the civic schools and hospitals. A sea change will definitely take time but little efforts at household level may help.”

Last year, she had called to limit the height of Ganpati idols in mandals, suggesting that immersion of large idols in the sea results in water pollution. However, Shiv Sena did not support her eco- friendly drive as it would hurt the sentiments of the devotees.