Biodiversity has also improved with 12 types of snakes, over 35 varieties of birds and over 15 types of butterflies
Navi Mumbai: A landfill site in Navi Mumbai's Koparkhairane has been converted into a garden through Japanese Mayawaki techniques. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had planted over 40,000 saplings last year with the help of NGO Green Yatra at this site, which has now become a 15-feet tall tree.
"It is a sight to behold... in just 10 months the plants have grown to 15 feet tall," he said. The Japanese method of plantation was designed using scientific techniques to assure natural vegetation in a short period of time regardless of soil and climatic conditions,” said municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar.
NMMC conducted soil analysis to prepare the plantation site before planting 40,000 saplings. A form of biomass fertilizer was subsequently prepared and spread evenly over the soil.
Pradeep Tripathi, founder of Green Yatra, said that a lot of thought was put into maximizing the survival rate of each plant. “So, out of the 60 odd types of plants planted on a three-acre plot, about 40% are shrubs, canopy trees… With proper support systems and quantitative biomass distribution, the plants are now growing rapidly.”
Biodiversity has also improved with 12 types of snakes, over 35 types of birds, more than 15 types of butterflies. A member of the golden jackal family has also been seen in the area. "Seeing birds and animals is an indicator of the positive changes that are taking place as a result of the plantation activity," an official said.