Green zone

“The hill is a huge piece of land and ensuring that it remains green is a humongous task. We have thus come up with an initiative called GreenPanch under which small pieces of land have been assigned as responsibilities to various members and ensuring that plants in that area get water is their responsibility,” says Nikhil Choudhary,member,One Life Club,the organisation associated with the activity.

Established about a year ago,the group has over 100 members. “We have been working in unison with the PMC. A few years ago,this hill was bald and one of the important components missing from the hills was sand. The PMC had planted glyricedia trees in order to create and retain sand layer on the rocky patch. The trees have now grown and served their purpose and they need to be replaced with the local species. To meet that requirement,we encourage our members to plant trees in memory of their beloved ones,on birthdays and various other occasions. In fact,tree watering,pit-digging,cleaning the quarry,getting saplings from the nursery,tree planting are some of the activities that we do on regular basis,” adds Choudhary.

With over six water tanks fitted on the top of the hills the group has been working towards creating a drip irrigation system for the entire hill. “The other side of the hill is occupied by slums and children from slums sometime burn the dry grass on the hill. Fire spreads and the entire hill turns into a dark patch with all the dry trees burnt. While we are talking to the PMC to ensure that there is no intervention from the slum- sides,we,on our side have created n0-grass-patches that stop the fire from spreading. The compound wall is being constructed at the Panchavati side to avoid stray dogs entering the hills as they attack on peacocks and rabbits thus causing threats to the biodiversity of the hill,” he adds.

With a 24-hour watchman appointed by the residents to ensure that the hills are not misused by anyone,the group now plans to increase the number of local trees on the hill. “Tree-planting for replacement of the mono-culture plantations on the hill-sides,beautification of some of the areas around the deserted quarries,which will also serve as reservoirs of water,and natural tree-growing methods are to be adopted. Sustainable and low resource utilising methods of tree plantation are on our priority list now. While the PMC has approved budgets for the conservation of these hills,we are working towards making effective utilisation of the funds allotted,” he says.