On the eve of World Environment Day, the BMC’s K West Ward 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 Make Earth Green Again Foundation and Vriksha Nursery, organised a simple yet effective tree plantation act at the hands of renowned actor Ranvir Shorey with son Haroon Shorey and singer-entrepreneur Saniya Saiyad by planting a Sita Ashok (Saraca asoca) tree at the pit where a Wad tree stood along with Local Councilor Smt. Pratima Tai Khopade, Asst. Commisioner MCGM K-West Ward Shri Vishvas Mote, Anusha Srinivasan Iyer of Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation and Shaan Lalwani of Vruksha and Nodal Officer of Adopt A Fallen Tree Pit Shri Yogendra Kachhawa and Municipal Staff of K-West Ward.
“After the inauguration at the hands of Hon MP Hema Maliniji, a lot of local citizens have expressed their desire to become tree parents. lt is indeed a great feeling to have citizens’ support in restoring our Ward's green cover," enthused Vishvas Mote.
"Trees are the lungs of the earth. They help our planet breathe by turning carbon dioxide into oxygen, besides being the planet's air conditioning system. It is indeed a great move by the BMC Asst Commissioner Vishvas Mote to involve citizens in the civic body's move to adopt a tree planted at each place a tree fell during the Cyclone Tauktae," added Anusha Srinivasan Iyer, Founder, Make Earth Green Again MEGA Foundation.
“I was quite sad to see this big old tree succumb to the cyclone, so I’m very happy that the authorities are planting another one,” said Ranvir Shorey.
Saniya Saiyad expressed, “I am elated that the BMC is stressing on the importance of planting native plants, and today I am actually joining the league of those who plant native plant species. Indigenous trees require less water, and by planting them we are actually doing the surrounding wildlife a favour.”