GREEN CITY
India, over the last decade & half has witnessed unprecedented urbanization. This has led to an influx of people from the interiors to the cities. The population of all major cities across India has increased exponentially. This has led to tremendous strain on the existing infrastructure. The problem has been further compounded by the increased spending in the growing middle & upper middle class segment, thanks to which there is an increase in number of private vehicles on the roads. What’s more this number is rising daily. The authorities are doing the best they can. But, as the proverbial saying goes, “there are simply more mouths to feed”.
The combined effect of all these situations is very evident in the alarmingly increasing pollution levels across cities. And it is more pronounced in a city like Mumbai, which happens to be the economical capital of the country. The city is bursting at the seams & getting choked is not helping matters either. New constructions all over the city are leading to a depletion of its Green cover. Trees are the very lungs of the city. So, a city with choking lungs can hardly afford to lose vital Oxygen.
Action time!!!
Thankfully, along with the increase of a whole lot of unwanted elements, there has been a steady increase in the overall education & awareness level among citizens all over the world including India. This has led to some very healthy, City saving Progressive examples showing up. Especially towards increasing the Green cover of the city. And if these examples can be studied & emulated, a lot of benefit can accrue for all the people concerned & will in turn prove to be a boon for the overall Environment.
Green Cover examples can be broadly classified under two important categories:
A) TREE PLANTATION DRIVES
B) URBAN FARMING
TREE PLANTATION DRIVES
These are voluntary efforts on part of groups of people or Organizations to plant trees wherever possible, so as to offset the loss of trees due to Construction Activities, Road Widening, Natural Calamities & various other reasons. The Trees are not only planted but taken care of till they attain maturity.
These examples have proven so successful, that they have led to an increase in health of people wherever trees have been planted & in most cases, also led to an increase in Estate Rates. The reason is not too far-fetched, as people prefer localities with Green cover since not only are they more aesthetically pleasing but also provide health benefits, not to mention the fruits.
URBAN FARMING
People grow food wherever they find a place to grow plants. On individual level, people grow fruit & vegetable yielding plants on their terraces, balconies, patios, front yards, back yards, etc., wherever there’s enough sunlight to facilitate plant growth. On Apartment & neighborhood levels, groups of people belonging to their respective apartments & neighborhoods come together & grow food in common areas like Terraces, Parking lots, Apartment Gardens, neighborhood parks, etc.
These activities besides increasing the Green cover of the city & yielding fresh Organic food for the people have also proved to foster Community bonding & an increase in the level of overall public health.
Along with continuing personal education, this column seeks to educate people, developers, & authorities on the benefits of increasing Green Cover by studying various examples across the world. The sole aim being to foster more such examples, thereby benefiting not only individuals, societies, but the entire Eco system at large.
