Tree walk' over Thane botanical garden

Mumbai: Come December 11, residents of Thane will carry out a “tree walk”  against the Thane Municipal Corporation after the latter took over the botanical garden from its creator.

The walk will be undertaken by botanists, naturalists and residents inside the garden in question i.e. Dattaji Salvi Udyan, Thane, which is the city’s tiniest botanical garden housing a wide array of plant species.

Scheduled to start at 7.30 am, the walk will educate participants about the garden’s history and current status. “In the end, they will be asked to decide whether maintenance of the garden should remain with the creator or be handed over to the corporation. Accordingly, they will be asked to write individual letters to the corporation, urging it to allow maintenance of the garden to remain with the creator,” said Reenee Vyas, a naturalist who organises tree walks wherever required.

“Our aim is to save the garden which has a rich variety of plants and hence, we are trying to gather more people so that our voices are heard. This is one of the most beautiful gardens in Mumbai created by one man in terms of such a variety of species and maintenance. We believe it can be saved if a large number of people turn up at the walk,” said Ms Vyas.