Planting for a Greener Gurgaon - Independence Day Tree-Planting at the Aravali Biodiversity Park

It was a bright and beautiful morning this Independence Day, as carefully tended saplings of Aravali’s native plants: doodhi, salai, kullu, dhak, kuda, bistendu, goondi, papada, gurjan, mendal, marodfali, donkey berry, gangeti, goya khair, karonda and hins awaited the planters. The iamgurgaon green team was as usual in full swing taking care of all the preliminaries along with Aravali Bio Diversity Park’s (ABDP) dedicated lot of malis, who had dug out over 200 pits yesterday at the I-day planting sites: one, the area in front of the green room that has the most beautiful 360 degree view of the now lush ABDP and second, the green patches just outside the ABDP gates.

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The volunteers, their families and friends began planting as soon as they arrived and were soon joined by many people who had actually come for their morning walk but decided to happily join in the “plant a million trees drive” aimed at reviving Gurgaon’s green lungs. Some even signed up cheques on the spot to contribute towards the care of ABDP plants – works out to a sum of just Rs 650 per plant for 3-years of maintenance.

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The highlight of the day, however, was planting by members of the DLF City Senior Citizen Council, who had turned out in larg  e numbers for the green Gurgaon drive. Dressed in the colours of the National Flag, the elders displayed childlike enthusiasm as they proudly posed for the camera with their plants. Finally, at 11 am the Council had a little picnic near the green room with everyone in high spirits for having just lived, in their own small way, Gandhiji’s famous quote: Be the change you wish to see! Jai Hind!

By Gunjan Pande who volunteered with planting at Aravali Bio Diversity Park on August 15, 2016.

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