This World Environment Day, the trees at K West Ward, Mumbai saw the BMC breathing new life into them. Asst Commissioner Mr. Vishvas Mote along with Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation is starting ‘Be A Tree Parent – Adopt A Fallen Tree Pit’ Campaign to involve societies and residents to adopt one of the 348 fallen tree locations in K West Ward and re-plant the same with an identified fast growing tree species.
The move comes in the wake of Cyclone Tauktae’s damage to the green cover of Mumbai, with 2363 trees being uprooted and innumerable others losing their branches.
Involving celebs who expressed their desire to motivate the masses, Mote, along with Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, the founder of Make Earth Green Again Foundation and Shaan Lalwani of Vriksha Nursery, organised a simple yet effective tree plantation act at three locations in JVPD Scheme by the hands of actors Anil Kapoor, Amit Behl and Ashnoor Kaur, along with philanthropist Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka and singer-entrepreneur Saniya Saiyad and Paramjit Singh Ghai of JVPD Coop Housing Association. The trees planted were the indigenous Nagkeshar, Sita Ashok, Tamhan and Undal trees.
Said Anil Kapoor, “Trees are a part of my life. The trees that fell due to cyclone were right outside my house and I have adopted them. I am glad that Vishwas Mote ji, Asst Commissioner BMC has taken this initiative to replant the trees by garnering people’s support in coming forward to adopting the tree pits.”
Dr Aneel Kashi Murarka assured that he would ensure green footprints, Ashnoor Kaur promised to personally plant at least a tree a month and spread the word among her fans, Amit Behl said that he would use the CINTAA social media handles to ensure that more trees are brought to life, safeguarding the city’s green cover. Saniya Saiyad confessed that she had already started planting more than five trees a day since she started off with the campaign.
Added Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, “We are glad that the BMC initiative is bringing forth public support from throughout the city and people are willing to adopt the trees and be tree parents. We have citizen’s groups planting trees aided by the BMC. We have young kids like Haroon Ranvir Shorey and Advait Mote who are adopting trees and taking on the responsibility of becoming tree parents of today and guardians of the green of tomorrow. This spells the blooming future for the Tree Parent Project.”