Dadar residents plant 400 saplings around Shivaji Park to tackle red soil pollution

Saplings that will one day grow into medium-sized trees which create a wind barrier around the periphery of Shivaji Park in Dadar West. Pics/By Special Arrangement

Dadar residents living around Shivaji Park last week planted 400 saplings of indigenous medium-sized trees around the 2 km periphery of the open space to curb red soil pollution, after two years of repeated attempts to resolve the issue with the help of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) failed to yield results.

The saplings include those of the ashoka tree, varieties of jasmine such as parijat, and raat rani or night blooming jasmine, and banyan, which can act as a wind barrier to prevent plumes of dust from rising from the loose red soil.

Planting of medium-sized indigenous plants was part of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay's (IIT-B) original solutions to resolve the issue of red soil pollution at Shivaji Park. Apart from planting of indigenous trees along the periphery, IIT-B had also suggested planting grass on the playground to hold the soil in place. In June 2025, the BMC tested this solution on a small patch of soil at Shivaji Park. However, it was opposed by residents due to issues of maintenance.

The long-standing issue

Residents first complained to the authorities about dust at Shivaji Park in 2015. At the time, the ground was covered mainly in sandy soil and rough grass plantation, as opposed to the red soil seen at the playground at present. Since the 1960s, red soil has been laid on a small patch to facilitate police parades on Maharashtra Divas (May 31).

Red soil was poured and rolled along a single track in the centre of the ground measuring 750 and 50 metres in length and width respectively to facilitate the parade. Alleging inaction on the part of the BMC, the ALM took matters in its own hands, implementing the suggestion made by IIT-B in a 2025 report - planting indigenous tall plants on the periphery of the park.

Secretary Speak

Vaibhav Rege, secretary of the Shivaji Park ALM. FILE PIC/ASHISH RAJE

Vaibhav Rege, secretary of the Shivaji Park ALM
‘The ALM approached our area's councillor to use funds from the annual corporator corpus to buy saplings. About 400 saplings have been planted along the periphery of the park. IIT-B had originally suggested this as a measure to prevent winds from the coast at Dadar beach, which can create soil plumes. While the BMC is mulling over the solutions, residents decided to intervene. This also adds to the beautification plan that former Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani commissioned for Shivaji Park.'

A brief timeline

June 2025: BMC planted bermuda grass. The work began on June 18, covering about 200 sq m, as part of an experimental trial, in compliance with directives from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

November 2025: BMC conducted a public meeting between IIT-B and residents. The first post-monsoon gathering to find a comprehensive solution to the problem of red soil pollution. The residents demanded an overhaul, urging BMC to replace the existing red soil with a variety.

April 2026: IIT-B was to submit a new comprehensive report to BMC with solutions to curb red soil.

Trees planted

>> Ashoka
>> Taman
>> Bahava
>> Raat rani
>> Parijat
>> Krishna Kamal
>> Vad

[popcorn number="2015" desc="Year red dust issue was first raised by residents" class="Default"]