Making Mumbai greener, one home at a time

Over 35 housing societies and 10 schools have taken part in HT’s Green Mumbai initiative.

In a push to the ongoing green efforts in the city, members of Abrol Vastu Park Society, Malad (West) gathered on Sunday morning to participate in a mass plantation drive in their own backyard. In other corners of the city, residents of Hiranandani Meadows Garden, Thane and Kalyan Nagri Rachana Society, Kalyan also planted saplings in their respective societies.

Sai Suman housing society, Vikhroli, was one of the societies which had taken part in the drive. (HT photo)

The efforts on Sunday, which led to 70 saplings being planted, were not one-off events. They were part of HT’s Green Mumbai campaign, jointly initiated by NGO Heartfulness Institute and Hindustan Times, with 35 housing societies and 10 schools.

HT had previously reported on the campaign, aimed at community development in schools, colleges, and homes that kicked off on July 14 in Mumbai and Pune and has been conducted every weekend since. More than 1,000 trees have been planted in a span of three weeks.

The campaign, with its slogan Each One Teach One To Plant One, has garnered support from the civic bodies of Mumbai, Thane, Panvel and Kalyan-Dombivli . They will supply saplings to societies and schools for free.

To promote holistic collective as well as individual growth, the plantation drive is clubbed with meditation and relaxation sessions. Volunteers begin the day with yoga, guided by members of Heartfulness Initiative, which is followed by the plantation drive.

Shobha Chandnan, secretary, Abrol Vatsu Park Society, said, “It is a timely initiative. We would definitely like to participate in similar events in the future.”

The campaign got support of Sanjay Kelkar, Thane MLA; Tejaswani Galande, civic chief, Panvel; and Pawan Agarwal, founder- president, Kamalabai Educational Charitable Trust.

How you can get involved

To register you school or institute, call 8691915959 or log on to http://bit.ly/HTGreenMumbai