The Kandivali stretch of Sanjay Gandhi National Park has silently been getting a green makeover thanks to District 314 of Inner Wheel Club's massive plantation drive
Past the highway's hustle and bustle and the willy-nilly lanes that follow, once you enter the Lokhandwala Complex in Kandivali East, the temperature tangibly dips. It has nothing to do with the air conditioners cooling several homes of the posh locality, but the fact that the backside of the complex faces a stretch of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
The same stretch was once lined with hutments. "The forest department razed them about six to eight years ago," says Himadri (fondly called Hima) Nanavati, a member of Inner Wheels Club (IWC), the women's wing of Rotary.
Sensitised by climate change and its impact worldwide, Nanavati wanted to start a tree planting drive under the club's Environment Project. "When I shared the idea in 2014, Nusrat came forward. She and her husband approached the forest officials, who gave us a patch of one acre. The authorities told us it had been deforested by encroachers, whose hutments they had removed and we immediately began raising funds," says Nanavati who was then the chairperson of IWC's District 314 that stretches from Dahanu to Colaba and Ambernath.
Members planted the first batch of 360 trees on September 30, 2014. With each passing year, the number has increased. "Under the leadership of our current district chairperson, Dr Madhavi Pandya, and backed by our 66 clubs, this year we've crossed 5,500 trees planted over 15 acres. Looking at our commitment, the forest department encouraged us to cover more space," says project chairperson, Nanavati.
On Monday, the last 15 of this year's 2,000 trees were planted by officials and the club's dignitaries. Some of them included Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, MK Rao; Divisional Forest Officer PB Bhalekar; Zone-12 Deputy Commissioner of Police Vinay Rathod; Assistant Municipal Commissioner Gaikwad; and All India IWC President, Patricia Hilton. "After the first showers, we have been planting 200 to 300 trees everyday," adds Nanavati.
Kandivali residents Nusrat (65) and Afzal Khatri (67), who received the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar in 2009, have been overseeing the groundwork. The tree selection is neither random, nor monoculture-style; keeping in mind seasonal rainfall and biodiversity, Nusrat has picked indigenous trees that don't require too much water. Today, the patch boasts 57 species of trees. "We studied the place and selected trees accordingly," says Afzal.
The initial cleaning up of debris began with 20 labourers; today for maintenance and other aid, the couple has six paid staff and spirited students from Thakur College in Kandivali, who are volunteering on invitation.
Each year, on an average the club raises Rs 8 to 10 lakh. But how far will they go and how long will this project continue? "We plan to clear debris and go on planting till we reach the national park or till there's space available. Post that we'll continue wherever we are needed," Nanavati signs off.
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