Vadodara: A neglected stretch along the Chhani canal will be turned into one of the city’s largest urban green lungs, with the civic body planning to plant one lakh native trees under a Miyawaki forest project. The initiative will also add amenities such as cycling tracks, walkways and exercise zones.A vast tract of wasteland along the Chhani canal has been transformed into an urban Miyawaki forest by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). While 10,000 trees of 40 native species are already planted, another 90,000 saplings will be added over the next three months, VMC officials said.“The project envisages developing dense native forests on either side of the canal using the available 12 to 15 metre-wide green corridors,” said Mangesh Jaiswal, director, parks and gardens, VMC.The project, named Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Urban Miyawaki Forest, is a joint initiative of VMC and Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), with Kalyan Krupa Foundation serving as the implementation partner.The civic body on Thursday held a plantation drive in the forest area under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.The plantation includes timber species such as sag, sevan and mahogany; medicinal trees such as arjun, sadad and putranjeeva; high oxygen-producing species including banyan, peepal and neem; and flowering varieties such as kesudo, karanj and kachnar.“The civic body also plans to build a cycling track, walkway, gazebo and install exercise equipment in the urban forest area,” VMC officials said.
