Kolkata: For the third year in a row, ‘Ecologic’ — a nature lovers forum formed by a group of residents in New Town — on Sunday achieved the milestone of planting another 1,000 trees this year in different areas of the township. With this, the forum has now planted around 3,300 trees across New Town in the last three years.
“Last year, we planted around 1,300 trees.Till date, we have planted almost 3,300 trees in and around New Town. The initiative has been taken by the citizens without any external funding. It has been a small but spontaneous endeavour to make our neighbourhoods greener and to spread the message of developing an eco-friendly environment,” said Biswajit Majumder, one of the founding members of ‘Ecologic’ and a resident of Eastern High complex.
The forum has generally been planting local indigenous varieties and fruit trees in the green verges and parks of Action Area I. Saplings were planted mostly in places like Smritibon Park, CB Block park and in open spaces near Central mall, Axis mall, New Town bus stand, Clock Tower, Happy Street and near Pride hotel.
The group is also trying to maintain the plants since close to 80% of the trees that have been planted by the forum are surviving and growing up well. The forum has involved not only the residents, but also the local gardeners and auto drivers to water the plants and take care of them.
Sticks are being placed beside the planted trees so that they could be identified and protected. ‘Ecologic’ aims to plant more trees by the end of this year.
NKDA authorities lauded the initiative. “This has been a commendable effort and we are immensely happy to see the citizens taking up such green initiatives. We always try to reach out and involve other people in joining these eco-friendly endeavours,” said an official.