The year-and-a-half old New Town AK Block Residents Forum will organise the second Durga puja on the plot at AK 38/1 on Street 12 that it has been handed over for cultural activities by NKDA. But before the autumnal ritual, they organised a tree plantation programme to welcome monsoon.
“The utility of trees can be made out by the fact that some of you have found a tree to take shelter under but some could not find one,” said NKDA chairman Debashis Sen.
“It was he who had suggested planting trees when the plot was given to us,” said block general secretary Animesh Paul. So on a day when 50 trees were planted along the boundary walls, Sen was invited to plant the first one.
The block has chosen to alternate Debdaru with Furush. “A Furush tree bears white or violet flowers. We are using both,” said Paul.
Sen advised the block association to plan what trees to plant. “Once a tree grows, you cannot uproot it without facing green tribunal sanctions.” He suggested creating an oxygen channel. “An avenue lined with Neem (emits oxygen in high volume because of bigger foliage) and Bamboo (a natural air purifier) has 30 per cent more oxygen,” he said.
The block is also doing a survey on spots on the pavements where trees can be planted.
Salvaged nook: The micro garden that was inaugurated on August 28 in AK Block on the plot next to AK 42. The plot was earlier a dumping ground.
Picture by Sudeshna BanerjeeMicrogarden next door
The block recently got a micro garden on an empty plot next to AK 42, at the southern extremity of the township. “It is the first park in our block,” said president Tapas Chatterjee. Lined with benches and walkways, the NKDA garden was earlier a heap of rubble since the construction of the adjacent building which had turned into a dumping ground. A smaller plot has been turned into a micro garden in adjacent AI Block as well.
