Ignorant, heartless vandalisation lays waste the hardwork and cheer!
Forty fun filled days in Europe and yet my heart pined to come home to India…to GK 2…to walk in my park, to laugh with my friends. But hearing news of a scorched Delhi with temperatures soaring to 52 degrees Celsius, my heart sank. I pulled myself together and as if God stirred, my mind began planning a Miyawaki forest – the concept of densely planting native trees, which compete for sunlight and in the process grow faster than usual, and become a self-sustaining forest within 2 years. And I knew exactly where to do it…a barren portion of a park, unused and littered with garbage, next to the Sehgal Market 2 park, GK 2.
My friends were equally enthusiastic and we formed a team VAN SE HUM…Yes, we will cease to exist without forests! We got the park cleaned, and bought beautiful native saplings. Pits were dug, manure added, maalis appointed and finally, a sort of ‘Van Utsav’ celebrated, involving the participation of all green thinkers. A once lifeless park was filled with much laughter and cheer from the residents. Dhak, Mahua, Babool, Ashwagandha…71 trees in all were planted on 7th July.
However, we were threatened by some residents to plant only on the periphery or we would have to face dire consequences. Leaving a five-foot gap in between, we planted trees on both sides of the wasteland. Everyone took turns to ensure the safety of our baby trees.
But our joy was short-lived! Just 10 days later at about 10:30 pm, a group of boys came to play cricket in this Van and mercilessly butchered all the saplings…torn roots and branches scattered all over the next morning… I stood speechless and heartbroken…!! Who got this done is still a mystery, despite police intervention. But the point remains…what was better? A Mini forest providing clean and cooler air OR the satisfaction of some ignorant, heartless residents who vandalized it just to prove themselves right…that the uneven, unclean, unused dog park was meant to be a playground and so trees should not have been planted there!!
