New buildings in the city will soon have provision for a garden on their terrace or rooftop.
New buildings in the city will soon have provision for a garden on their terrace or rooftop. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to make provision for terrace or vertical gardens in its proposed Development Control Rules (DCR).
Former mayor and senior Shiv Sena corporator Shubha Raul had proposed that the BMC allow gardens on building terraces and rooftops. The proposal was approved during the civic body Tree Authority Committee meeting on Friday.
“Considering the growth in population and also increase in development works, green cover in the city is on the decline. There is very little space for tree plantation in the city. On the other hand, high-rise buildings are increasing. Terrace gardens should be built on terraces and open spaces in these high-rises so that the greenery will increase in the city. It will also help bees and small birds maintain their life cycle,” said Ms Raul.
She added that the BMC develops terrace gardens on all its municipal buildings. Aromatic and medicinal plants, trees that are beneficial to the environment, should be planted in these gardens. Towards this, assistance from horticulturists, botanists and bird experts could be taken.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta accepted Ms Raul’s proposal and has promised to make provision for terrace gardens in the city’s DCR.
“The aim of terrace gardens is to increase greenery in the city. However, in case of old buildings, there are problems of leakages and structural stability while implementing this concept. Hence, developers will be instructed to design their buildings in such a way that they will be able to sustain the weight of terrace gardens and water proofing will be done properly to avoid leakages,” said Jitendra Pardeshi, superintendent of gardens, BMC.
