Since last year I have been part of a ‘tree group’. We are a
not friends and not even activists. We are just a group of persons interested
in increasing the tree cover of vile parle east. Aniket Karandikar has been
doing most of the work and planning, though he hates to be called our ‘leader’.
For me, he is THE LEADER of our group.
Aniket coordinated with the garden department of MCGM as
well our Corporator Mrs Jyoti Alvani. He has taken as much support as they
could provide. Rest of us are known to him, or acquaintances of friends or
friends of acquaintances and so on......variously related to each other but
connected through the same desire to have more trees in Parle. Aniket allotted
us trees- we were given option of sponsoring the protective fencing around
trees or to become tree parents by watering the saplings everyday in the dry
months. The sponsorship amount was 1200/- per tree. He made small plaques
citing name of sponsors as well as some with positive quotes. He has also been
mulching trees with nirmalya flowers regularly. He removes garbage around the
trees. And Jyoti Alvani gave us all letters of appreciation. So in 2015 Aniket has been monitoring trees
on Hanuman Road and Malaviya Road.
I used to water my adoptee everyday on the way back from
dropping my kid to school. But in Divali vacation I had to request shopkeeper
in Siddanchal building to take over as I was travelling. This tree got adopted
by him eventually. Now I am ready to adopt another tree. Mr Ashwin from
Guruprasad society is seen with a bucket watering all saplings and monitoring
them early in the morning everyday- no one told him to do so. He saw the
saplings and thought of caring for them- and became a tree parent. There are
many such persons who have joined the tree group without even being aware of
it. And there is nothing official about it!
Now we are looking forward to the next round of tree plantation. Aniket has
asked for suggestions about where to plant trees this year and also which
species. Of course, he is clear that NO EXOTIC species will be planted....like
Australian acacia. Also tree sponsors and tree parents are required and we are
making lists. Tree plantation will be done in May and June, just before the
rainy season. Our saplings have shown
good growth and by next year they will be independent trees. Every sapling
needs outside support for 2 years. So under Aniket’s direction and planning, we
hope to have a good tree plantation season.
