BMC invites Mumbaikars to plant 16,000 trees at Kanjurmarg dumping ground on World Environment Day

The BMC has urged citizens to actively take part in the plantation drive at Kanjurmarg. FILE PIC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited, will plant around 16,000 trees at the Kanjurmarg dumping ground on the occasion of World Environment Day 2026 on Friday, June 5.

The civic body will launch the ‘ReRoot' city forest restoration initiative at 8 am at the waste processing centre in Kanjurmarg. The programme aims to transform the dumping ground into a green and sustainable urban ecosystem.

Citizens invited to join plantation drive

As part of the drive, citizens have been invited to participate in the plantation activity between 8 am and 5 pm on Friday.

The BMC has appealed to Mumbaikars to join the initiative and contribute towards environmental conservation efforts in the city.

Boost to Mumbai's green cover

Officials said the initiative is a major step towards improving Mumbai's green cover and promoting ecological restoration of waste management sites.

Over seven native and environment-friendly tree species will be planted, alongside 12,800 existing plants already present at the site.

The BMC has urged citizens to actively take part in the plantation drive at Kanjurmarg.

From one seed to 18 lakh saplings: How a Beed resident became Maharashtra's green crusader

For most people, planting a tree is a one-time symbolic act. But for Maharashtra's Beed district-based environmental activist Sudhakar Deshmukh, it has been a mission lasting more than four decades.

Hailing from Mamdapur village in Ambejogai tehsil, Deshmukh has dedicated his life to planting and distributing saplings across the state, turning everyday social occasions into opportunities for environmental action.

Over the years, Deshmukh is believed to have distributed more than 18 lakh saplings across Maharashtra.

What makes his effort unique is how these saplings are shared. They are gifted during weddings, birthdays, housewarming ceremonies, retirement functions, religious events and public gatherings, making tree planting a part of social celebrations.

Deshmukh's journey began in his early years, when he worked in fields and grazed cattle. During that time, he often survived on wild fruits and edible plants found in forests and farmlands.

Instead of throwing away the seeds of the fruits he ate, he began planting them in open spaces, along riverbanks and rocky areas. This simple habit slowly grew into a lifelong environmental mission.