Changing City: Discarded tyres turned into planters, Ludhiana’s public spots undergo green makeover

In the past few months, the residents of Ludhiana have witnessed a welcome change when it comes to beautification and maintenance of public spots which were earlier lying barren and empty. (Express photo)

A small island near Aarti Chowk in the city has been beautified by using discarded tyres. The tyres have been converted into planters, and flowering plants in different hues have been placed at the spot.

Cut-outs of Punjabi alphabets have been placed along to promote mother tongue. Similarly, at another site in BRS Nagar, tyre planters, painted in bright yellow and red, have brought to life the spot which had otherwise been lying lifeless for decades.

This change in the city is an initiative taken by Bikramjit Singh Madhok (50), a businessman dealing in tyres, who developed a passion for converting discarded tyres into planters. In a tie-up with Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, he is beautifying such spots in the city by placing tyre planters.

Tyres are cut, re-shaped and painted in different colours before saplings are planted in them. (Express photo)

Tyres are cut, re-shaped and painted in different colours before saplings are planted in them.
Madhok says that it all started during a family trip to Switzerland more than a decade ago where he saw old discarded goods being used for beautification and that’s when he started the experiment first at his own place.

He first got some tyres converted into planters from a gardener, painted them in bright hues and placed them outside his own shop on Malhar Road. As saplings grew, turning the site into a soothing green view, he started getting appreciation from people who would cross the road.

“Soon we got more tyres converted into planters and started distributing them free of cost to the common man on our shop’s anniversary,” he says.

Jasdev Singh Sekhon, Zonal Commissioner-D, Ludhiana MC, said Madhok was given responsibility of two sites — Aarti Chowk island and BRS Nagar.

“They showed interest in maintaining both spots and paying for it out of their own pocket. Instead of discarding tyres or throwing them, they are doing a good job of planting saplings in them. Now both sites present a nice view for residents as well as those coming to our city from outside. Though it is just a beginning, we need more people to come forward and help us clean up the city which is infamous for pollution,” said Sekhon.

Madhok says that otherwise useless tyres are thrown in garbage, some even resort to burning them which leads to heavy air pollution. “We ensure to make some holes in tyres for proper drainage so that saplings don’t die. It is our responsibility to water them every two days,” he says, adding that his wife Rupinder Madhok has also undertaken a similar project at a park in Gurdev Nagar where tyre planters have been installed.

Madhok said that they are only planting ornamental and flowering plants in tyres, not any edibles or veggies.