Thane NGO To Turn 19 Hectares Of Land Into A Lush Forest Near Mumbai

Just out of the reaches of Mumbai (just over 60 kms away) lies Titwala, a town whose air is about to get a lot fresher. Enviro-Vigi, otherwise known as Paryavaran Dakshata Manch, is the NGO spearheading this operation and their goal is to develop a full-fledged 19 hectare forest in seven years. The Thane-based NGO is conducting this environmental endeavour with the intention of returning the aforementioned area back to the forest department in that timespan, not only as a re-forested region, but as a viable ecosystem.

According to Sangita Joshi of Enviro-Vigi the project, by the name of Devrai, aims to create a jungle. “ A jungle is a self-sufficient ecosystem. Our aim is not just to plant trees, but build to build system through Devrai,” she commented to DNA.

The afforestation project is taking place on the land in Vrinda, an area next to Titwala, and is expected to yield successful results as the area runs aside the Kalu river. This ideal location should make it possible to attempt soil conservation as well as to build check dams, which have the ability to increase the water table in the region. As greenery has become increasingly sparse around Mumbai, the need to increase green cover in the surrounding area has become imperative.

As stated by an official of the forest department to Times Of India, “One of the main projects of the forest department currently is increasing the forest cover in the entire state. In order to obtain this objective, we already conducted a state-wide tree plantation drive last July and will be carrying out another one on a larger scale this year. However, for the success of these projects, public participation is essential.”

Lucky for us, and the forest department, volunteers from Enviro-Vigi are creating a haven for nature a mere hour and a half drive from Mumbai. Yet there is always more room for both community and government action to create a greener India, and a lot of that action needs to take place in our metropolitan areas that are in true need foliage.

Feature Image Coutesy of Top News.