Marol plot transforms into lush, cool forest

Mumbai suburban guardian minister and state IT and cultural affairs minister Shish Shelar on Monday inaugurated the Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Mahashramanji garden, a 3.5-acre lush urban forest in Marol which barely had any trees two years ago.

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: Mumbai suburban guardian minister and state IT and cultural affairs minister Shish Shelar on Monday inaugurated the Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Mahashramanji garden, a 3.5-acre lush urban forest in Marol which barely had any trees two years ago.

"This garden is a model of how collaborative efforts can transform urban spaces into climate-resilient zones," Shelar said at the inaugural event.

The minister underlined the importance of citizen participation in developing urban forest parks across Mumbai, saying such green spaces could reduce temperatures in the city by 4°C over the next five years.

The project to transform the plot — half of it was classified as a garden while the other half belonged to the Marol Cooperative Industrial Estate — was funded by the District Planning and Development Committee.