A story tells of how Latur transformed itself from a concrete city into a Green Forest

@the_news_21

Mumbai: Latur city experienced one of its worst water shortages in 2016 and is well-known worldwide as water was supplied by railroads. As a result of the ongoing drought, there are fewer trees in the city, which is also abandoned and parched everywhere.

In this way the Latur tree movement was born, in the beginning two or three years after small tree planting drives, but from June 1, 2019, the Green Latur Vruksha Team undertook innovative steps and vigorously started tree planting and tree conservation work, which is continuing till date. For 1,140 days, the tree planting and tree care team planted more than 84,000 small and big trees, all the previous trees in the city were brought back to life.

In a moment, amazing things happened, and Latur as a whole turned green.

Thousands of trees planted in schools, colleges, temples, mosques, cemeteries, madrassas, railway stations, bus stands, police stations, district courts, road sideways, road dividers, green belts. Trees were planted in every colony, every society.

Every day, excluding rainy days, four to six water tankers were supplied to the newly planted trees in weekly rotation.

There is no president, vice-president, or official for this team, there is no registration, there is no account in any bank. According to the government budget, the Green Latur Vruksha Team has saved the government approximately 50 crore rupees in the last four years. There is a team of 70-80 members.

For their friends’ birthdays, each member brings sponsorship of trees or water tankers. Without a meeting, all planning is done through a WhatsApp group.

In addition, native trees including Neem, Wad, Pimpal, Bakul, Taman, Kanchanar, Arjun, Kadamba, Mahogany, Shirish, Parjanya Vriksha, Gulmohar, Bell, Chinch, Parijatak, Tagar, and Swastik have been planted for the purpose of beautifying the city.

Since the trees on both sides of the road and the divider are interlaced, walking down any street in the city today will feel like passing through a green tunnel of trees.

Together, this team of city residents from various backgrounds works together for the sole aim of Green Latur. Every day from 5.30 am to 9.30 am, doctors, lawyers, engineers, shopkeepers, teachers, progressive farmers, students and police all volunteer four hours of their time.

Thanks to the 84,000 trees planted over the past 1,140 days, Latur’s temperature was kept in check at 39 degrees Celsius, 40, and 41 degrees Celsius respectively in 2022. The same adjacent district recorded a temperature of 41-42-43 degrees Celsius. To replenish the soil, thousands of pits were dug at various locations for the trees, each one measuring 2 feet in height, width, and depth. The city’s pollution and dust levels have significantly decreased.

We host a variety of events, including gardening competitions, bonsai competitions, workshops, competitions for the best terrace gardens, great kitchen gardens, tree Ganpati, one house, one tree, one child, seedball, and distribution of seeds in the form of prasad.

Our work continues even during the Covid period.

The team has received recognition from numerous organisations that work in the environmental area at the local, state, and international levels.

Additionally, a non-cash activity called seed collection and planting has begun in some locations.

Water replenishment Project:

About 15 green belts, Gyran (fallow grazing lands), and bus stop locations have large holes that have been created, and the natural water in those areas has been restored by filling them with ballast, sand, and stones. In the response of a social media request of water recharge made by citizens.

The team responsible for turning the Concrete city into a Green Forest.

The members of the Green Latur Vruksha Team are : Dr. Pawan Ladda, Imran Sayed, Dr. Bhaskarrao Borgaonkar, Padmakar Bagal, Dr. Kalyan Barmade, Mirza Moiz, Sulekha Karepurkar, Prof. Meenakshi Bondge, Kalpana Kulkarni, Adv. Vaishali Yadav, Dayaram Sude, Rahul Mane, Abhishek Ghadge, Arvind Phad, Ratan Nampalle, Balasaheb Bavane, Balaji Umardand, Suraj Sakhre, Avinash Mantri, Vidula Rajmane, Pooja Patil, Rohini Patil, Asha Ayachit, Vikas Katpure, Nagsen Kamble, Kant Markad, Vijay Mohite, Mahesh Gelda, Sitaram Kanje, Vijaykumar Kathare, Mukesh Late, Krishna Vanjare, Nitin Kamkhedkar, Vikrant Bhumkar, Akash Sawant, Bhagwan Jabhade, Manmohan Daga, Pramod Nipanikar, Dr, Vimal Dole, Dr.Vaishali Ingole, Khaja Pathan, Asif Tamboli, Priya Naik, Mohini Devanale, Shailesh Suryavanshi, Sarthak Shinde, Nita Kanade, Gayatri Vakil, Yuga Kaname,  Shedherao Pawar, Suraj Sakhare, Kadam Madhav, Samriddhi Phad, Siya Ladda, Rajalakshmi Ladda, Sidhesh Mane Akash Chillerge, Abhijeet Chillarge, Ghodke

(For more details you can contact Dr Pavan Ladda of Green Latur Vruksha Team at 9326511681)