Plantations

This month maximum emphasis was on plantation and we had a good number of Pune tree watch members offering to coordinate plantation drives in their area. Detailed level planning took place, as we wanted a good survival rate and plant only indigenous trees.

We did succeed in roping the Army personnel and land in plantations in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. In fact this time the Forest Department Land was also planted on and the Forest Department did offer some help in this regard. Anchal Sondhi has helped and guided with most of the plantations mentioned below.

Abhik Mukerjee, Ashish Aundhkar, Anchal, Promod Goggi,  Rushikesh Samir Dhume, Samir Acharya,  Sachin Walunj,  Tasneem, Vinod Jain, and Vinayak participated

NDA Hill

Plantation was carried out on the NDA hill, just before Venky's farms. All contours to the right of the hill from  the main gate were planted with seeds of Jack fruit, Jamun, Imli, Shivam, ad two more types given to us by the Forest department.  Botanist, Dr. Aprana Watve informed the group present, on the different techniques to sow seed. Samir Dhume and Sachin Walunj helped and Pramod Goggi co-ordinated this.  Pramod was accompanied by his colleagues from his software company - Sybage. Sybage has formed a voluntary group called “Sybage Asha” which has members from various software groups like Sybage, Infosys etc.. Nine Members from this group joined us in this activity. They covered the entire left side of the hill that forest department had allocated. A variety of indigenous seeds were planted in and the members really thanked for having such an opportunity created by PTW. They will be coming next month to see their result. After 3 weeks Pramod visited the hill but as lot of grass too had grown along side, hence he could not estimate the success rate of their efforts.   Five kilos of indigenous seed were planted on the NDA hill over a period of  two and a half days. As the CCT work was already carried out by Forest dept and presence of rich soil, we estimate the success rate to be very high. However a year’s time will be required for monitoring as forest fires and cattle grazing are likely to take a heavy toll too.

Sagar Society in Bavdhan

Pramod Goggi last year had planted some trees in his society called ‘Sagar’ in Bavdhan, but trucks coming in for construction activity damaged them. He organized plantations again with the help of PTW. By the end of June most of preparations were completed and site visits were done with inputs from botanist Ketaki Ghate and Dr. Aparna Watve. Residents of the society donated plants and the chairman was keen on  spending money to organize another plantation program. A total of 40 indigenous trees are planned and some plantation is already underway. For trees around corner and too close to road, tree guards are being arranged for.

In Aundh MSEB staff quarters 80 indigenous tree saplings were planted. Activity coordinated by Samir Dhume and Anchal  Sondhi from PTW. They were joined by Mr. Jarghad and Ashok Sunder from MSEB.

On 8^th June the children of the residents met. All of them took a pledge to plant trees and look after them. Then on 9^th June Sanskriti Menon, Anusha Menon, Yash Sondhi, Sanjay Sondhi,  Sachin Walunj, Samir Dhume and Anchal Sondhi were present from PTW and 18 young children of MSEB quarters enthusiastically participated in the event. Garden department personnel,  Mr. Sonune  brought along four gardeners to help. Vinod Jain had donated 3 tools for PTW group plantation work that came in handy to speed the work up. Early morning the activity began and by 10am all 80 saplings were planted including Banyan and Tamarind trees. After watering the plants, Anchal conducted a tour of the entire complex and she guided the children about the different saplings planted and their care. Use of each species selected.  The children repeated then name after her and when randomly they were asked they remembered most of the names and their links with birds and man. The children have taken the responsibility of ensuring that the saplings are well taken care of. A lot of effort went in organizing this plantation and work on it began 6 months ago with residents and success rate of is good.

Army land plantations being coordinated by PTW member Sachin Walunj from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) area.
Sachin Walunj along with help of Army personnel and Mr. Vasantrao Takalkar organized the plantations on the army land in the PCMC area. Mr Takalkar who is an expert and Sachin managed to mobilize the PCMC to repair a JCB for the plantation work and get staff from PCMC besides ten Jawans from army for the plantation activity. Guidance for the Continuous Contour Trenching CCT work was sought from Mr. Takalkar yet the army and PCMC officials wanted to dig pits. Lot of convincing was required to point out to them that this method was faulty which resulted in the failure of the previous drives. Finally by the third week of June the CCT method of plantation started; which will increase the chances for the saplings to survive. This will also enable the harvesting of water along with soil conservation. Gate passes were provided to PTW members to participate in the drive.  By end of June about 5,000 saplings were planted. The target planned for this season is 15,000 saplings. This plantation has been largely possible due to Sachin’s perseverance.

Parvati

One member, Hrushikesh Ghone, planted 85-90 seeds of mango, 60-70 seeds of jamun & banyan tree of height 6 feet that he grew in his house near the Parvati area. Mr. Dilip Dakve who is a well-known environmentalist from Pune guided him with CCT (Contour Technique), which is the most beneficial technique for plantations.

Pashan -Sus link Road is a wide road. The footpath work is complete and the pits have already been dug by G. Dept. Initially no tree guards will be places since they are in short supply. Alternatively builders could be approached help or sponsor. Pepul and Neem tree species  have  been selected. About 100 trees can be accommodated at this site. As per previous planning done by PTW members along with Garden dept. 100 trees of Pepul and Neem were to be planted on Pashan-Sus link road but on 4th June the garden dept did not arrange for tall saplings although they were selected by PTW members.  The Garden dept. decided to plant Tabubiea, an exotic tree instead.  Anchal Sondhi insisted that program be postponed and instead arrangement be made for indigenous saplings. Last minute running around resulted in plantation on next day i.e. 5th June World environment day 50 saplings of indigenous trees Pepul, Rohituk Amoora and Mahogany were planted.

Baner main rd- From Green Park hotel to just before Baner Gaon starts
During the creation of this IRDP(Intergrated Road Development project) road many full-grown trees on Baner road came under the axe. While only a handful were transplanted on Sus-Pashan rd, .  PTW has requested the Garden Dept.  to undertake plantation on the remaining Baner Rd where work is complete. They have in principle agreed to do so.
To ensure that there better coordination between relevant authorities for plantation, members met. Mr. Latkar, who is the Head of  the Road Dept, PMC. He informed the members that since the widening is complete,  the planting trees can be initiated.  Members went for a site visit, which exposed that as in case some service lines were not yet laid under the footpath. On a second site visit the members tried to confirm if the that road was to be widened further. The groups doubts were verified and indeed the road is to be widened further, and acquisition of land is underway.

Meeting with Lion’s club

Anchal Sondhi had a meeting with Mr. Nitin Khonde Lion’s Vice president Secretary of Pune for Chutrshingi chapter for plantation. In Aundh, some  open reserved plots are possible sites were plantation in coordination with PTW, Garden dept, Aundh ward office, Corporators and the Aundh Vikas Smithi. Five sites (see below) have been identified so far.

1. Survey No. 157 whose owner is Lakashman Khonde next to Polka dot restaurant
2. Plot at end of Panchratana lane at Parihar chwok, off ITI road.
3. Open land opposite Vasundhara Buliding were currently part land is used by Potters
4. Opposite Gaikawad petrol pump where some trees are transplanted by Garden dept.
5. Land at end of Kothbagi lane is marked as reserved for public.

Bavdhan area

Request for plantation by PTW members in Bavdhan area 

Members of PTW met  Mr. Khaire and he agreed to do plantation along right side of Pashan Bavdhan rd. To ensure a good and coordinated plantation, the same members also met the Road dept chief,  Mr. Madhav Latkar to understand the picture better on their plans.  He informed that the road stretch from Bharat electronic to Banjara hotel, Bavdhan road is under widening,  work is still on and land is yet to be acquired for it in some places. So plantation seems a far cry on the road and therefore members decided to look at other land in Bawdhan for the same, which they found. They met we met Mr. Khaire again, who informed that he would be doing a garden there in future. On that cue the members got the city development plant of the fringe areas and had a look. They managed to locate open space survey no. 55 and 56, which is proposed to be reserved for parks and garden. Once the higher authorities approve fringe area map it will be available to the G. Dept for development work. We had some discussion on this and decided to wait for final approval. The members then came to the conclusion of planting in the forestland. Pramod Goggi and Anchal met Mr. Bhale Rao, forest dept. who is in charge of Bawdhan area which comes under Forest reserved land and asked for some patch of land where plantation this season can be carried out. Mr. Bhale Rao has shown willingness to extend help but his senior Mr. Bhosale informed the members that they can only allow us to use the land for plantation, and that they do not have funds to do digging and maintain regularly.  Keeping this is mind trees were selected with the help of experts.

After much deliberation, Mr Bhalerao took the members for a site visit to their nursery and then showed the site. A patch of NDA hill where Continuous Contour Trenching (CCT)  has been done, was allocated. He has agreed to give us tall saplings of our choice, which is indigenous and hardy species like Peepul, Imli. He will be giving us seeds to sow adjoining the CCT and taught us the methodology for sowing. 

Baner Tukai Tekdi
A final outline for a plantation program was prepared for the Tukai tekdi. This included digging trenches, putting a drip irrigation system in place and planting saplings on the Tukai tekdi and surrounding area. The plantation is taking place along with local residents form Baner Gaon, Ganesh Mandal members,  and PTW members. It will be carried out using funds from Tukai temple trust and labour will be engaged to do the real tough work as the hill is rocky and digging would be difficult. Care is being taken by team to ensure it follows the principles of Biodiversity Park. On the adjoining hill enthusiastic morning walkers from nearby areas of all ages have been roped in for dispersing seeds/seed balls of robust trees (Neem, Jack fruit, Mango, Tamarind, Shivam, Sturculia urnes etc)

So far about 500 saplings have been planted of largely indigenous tall saplings, about 600 seeds of various trees have been sown/dispersed. A variety of grass and shrubs are being planted in large number to ensure soil is held around the contours by roots. The hill is looking green and within few years it may become a “Devrai” i.e a sacred grove.

B.T Kawde Road
Last month Pune Tree Watch members led by Lt Col Sawhney and Anchal Sondhi had requested the Garden dept. to assist the group in tree plantation on B. T.Kawde Rd, Ghorpadi, which is currently under IRDP road works by Mr. N.K. Jagtap, City engineer road dept., PMC. The length of road is 2km and as per planning,  plantation would be on both sides of  the road at intervals of 21  ft or so. Anchal Sondhi has visited the nursery to look at the sapling availability. PTW provided the Garden dept. a list of trees to plant, and their respective quantities. The effort was also to involve local residents and PTW members for the plantation. Lt Col Sawhney tried to involve Mohalla Committee members but there was a luke warm response from them.  Mr. Jagtap has promised helped with the digging work. Mr. Salunke from the Garden dept.  has asked some builders like Kumar builders to donate some tall saplings and tree gaurds and it seems they have agreed to do so. Two site visits happened to supervise the work along with Mr. Salunke and Mr. Ghorpade. For the time being plantation in divider will not be done as the roots will not get space to grow due to road being made of concrete

Open space of PCMC
Sameer Acharya and Vinyak Yadav PCMC members have sown and dispersed 3 kilos of seeds of Tamarind, Mango, Jackfruit and Neem. Plantation of ficus species in and around the barren area of PCMC.  There was a lot of information exchange about seed dispersal and the seed ball method within the group. PTW members learnt that Ficus species like Pepul, Umber, Goolar, and Banyan cannot be sown, unless seeds have passed through a bird’s digestive system and that only cutting is possible.

Lullanagar Bibwewadi
Ashish Aundhkar and Tasneem Balasinorwala carried out a survey of Sony World to Lullanagar junction and Bibwewadi-Lullanagar road with Mr. Jagtap incharge of the area from Garden Department. Following points were discussed,

1) There is large scope for planting trees alongside these roads.

2) There are overhead electric wires which will obstruct these trees however these are at few locations and these areas can be taken care of by planting straight trees.

3) Mr. Jagtap agreed to put forward the proposal of planting poplar trees within the road dividers on Bibwewadi-Lullanagar road to Mr. Ghorpade after explaining him the example of Senapati Bapat road.

4) About 250-300 trees can be planted in these areas.

5) Mr. Jagtap was complaining about the insufficient manpower to maintain and water the trees to which we responded that these trees should be of good height and should be planted before commencement of monsoon.

6) He will be getting the contractor to this site by 10th May and mark the areas for planting the trees. We need to follow up continuously with him.

7) There is a slum alongside Bibwewadi-Lullanagar road which could be a problem area while carrying out the plantation as the slum dwellers use the road divider for drying their clothes and may uproot the trees on the side of the roads as the hutments are till the edge of the road. Putting the tree guard also will not help as they tend to sell these tree guards to scrap vendors. Can someone suggest any solution for this problem?

8) We have insisted for plantation of trees like neem, jamun, mango etc. on the road side and poplar trees within the road dividers. The fruit trees will attract the birds and thus help spread of these fruit seeds. Experts can suggest any other suitable avenue trees for these areas.

9) Few of the locations along these roads fall under army jurisdiction. We can also co-ordinate with the army officials for plantations.

10) Mr. Jagtap will also require help on saplings as he does not have enough stock of saplings with him.

The work on the Bibwewadi – Lullanagar road has been going slowly. Ashish Aundhkar  and Tasneem Balasinorwala  called the garden personnel in charge - Mr Jagtap- to voice dissatisfaction in which the work is progressing. They also spoke to Jagzap (tree officer) and requested that the site be visited by him and pressure be built so that the plantations can happen on time.

They came across opposition from one commercial complex against trees in front of them (blocking their hoardings) and Ashish Aundhkar in some previous site visits has been in regular dialogue with them, sticking to the point that the trees will be planted there and there is no problem. Considering that the opposition did not hold, the local corporator was contacted by the party, who subsequently spoke to the contractor and told him not to plant trees there.   

Mangalwar peth, Barne rd
For a month,  a citizen Azraj Dahihande from Mangalwar peth, Barne rd was trying to get  a response for plantation from the Garden dept. He them got in touch with PTW and due to our intervention, two site visits with the officials have happened. Though  due to the presence of a pipeline next to the road, the plantation cannot be done along the road. So Azar is looking for spaces near by and in front of shops adjoining the road. He is coordinating this with the help of Vinod Jain and Anchal Sondhi.

Alandi Road
Abhik Mukherjee, visited the huge open land in front of the Sai Mandir on Alandi Road and spread more seeds of Mango. He had collected around 100-110 seeds from his acquaintances; and he  has taken care that the seeds are placed in such places where there will be temporary storage of water following rains (as recommended by Sachin/Sameer after their Tukai Tekdi Visit).

Kalyaninagar
Mala Rihan reported about Kalyani Nagar where she contacted the residents Association for plantation and they will shortly finalize the places for 100 trees. She writes that everyone seems to want Khaire to do the job. She is trying to involve the school and other kids as she thinks it is equally important to give the younger generation a sense of ownership over the trees planted. - So that they will want to protect.