Landfill site turns into 'Museum of trees' in Vadodara 

VADODARA: In a unique initiative, the Vadodara Municipal corporation (VMC)has converted a garbage dumping ground located at Vadsar on the outskirts of the city into a museum of trees.

Till the launch of the project in October 2016, garbage used to be dumped at that site. But the VMC decided to stop dumping garbage there and planted saplings of nearly 100 varieties.

"Under the project, 12,663 saplings were planted on area of 50,000 square meters. All the trees have survived. This place has been named as 'Urban forest- Museum of Trees'," municipal commissioner Dr Vinod Rao said.

"Instead of earning a revenue of Rs 250 crore by selling the site, the VMC took up this unique project of planting trees," he added.

The project will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani tomorrow. In a bid to improve the city's green cover, the civic body would undertake a plantation drive soon.

"One million saplings would be planted this year," he said. Vadodara city was once known as the 'city of banyan trees' owing to a large number of trees of this variety.

But due to rapid industrial growth, the number of banyan trees dwindled over the years. "Our endeavour is getting back the past glory by planting trees across the city," Rao said.