The bare truth

Two patches in Salisbury Park that would have still been barren, or perhaps strewn with litter, now have a moderately green look, owing to t...

Two patches in Salisbury Park that would have still been barren, or perhaps strewn with litter, now have a moderately green look, owing to the tall trees that attract an assortment of birds and bring in cool breeze for the denizens residing in the vicinity. This is thanks to the afforestation efforts closely monitored by Col V P Taneja, a resident of this locality, on behalf of the Express Citizens8217; Forum ECF.

One such stretch is along the rear boundary walls of Mira Society and Anand Park, between which runs the Mutha Right Bank Canal. On the banks of this canal, about 500 trees were planted, along a three-quarter-kilometre stretch in 1990, by the ECF. Thereafter, says Taneja, 8220;thanks to the moral support of the ECF, I have been personally looking into the upkeep of this afforestation area. Around 350 trees have survived, but the steady chopping of trees by the neighbourhood slum-dwellers has become a serious cause for concern. This stretch, which belongs to the Irrigation Department, has voluntarily been taken over by the ECF, solely for the purpose of tree plantation.8221;

Subsequently, the ECF, with Taneja at the steering wheel, painted a greener picture at Salisbury Park when they had another tree plantation drive on a defence land adjacent to Mira Society. States Taneja with pride, 8220;About four acres of this stretch were lying barren. We contacted the army authorities and requested for permission to plant trees to avoid any encroachment. He gave us the go ahead and with the help of the students of Joshi Hindi High School, we planted around 500 trees. One-fifth of them have survived today. Here too, miscreants keep cutting down trees.8221;

Despite giving the locality little pockets of green amidst the concrete, Taneja complains that illegal hacking of trees has become a spoke in the wheel of their maintenance.

As for the tall trees that dot the backyards of Mira Society and Anand Park, the incessant chopping of the same is worrying. According to Taneja, even the nearby residents are indifferent to the good work done by the ECF and he continues to be the sole crusader in trying to keep the environment green.

Are the residents of Salisbury Park listening?