Work on vertical garden begins at Railway station

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 16

In an innovative way to manage waste, efforts are underway to beautify the walls of Railway station here by building vertical gardens using waste plastic bottles. The brain behind the idea is interior decorator Gitanjali Mehra and her husband Rohit Mehra (IRS). It was Rohit Mehra who had conceptualised the idea and made it practically possible at his home. The couple has helped many institutions and individuals replicate the same at their respective places.

Talking to The Tribune Gitanjali Mehra said, “We offer free advice to people who are interested in vertical gardens at their places. The idea is to put to use the discarded plastic bottles to promote and develop green spaces.”

She said a few corporate houses and railway station authorities have come together for the project at the local railway station. “It would be a unique sight and can become an attraction for the visitors to the city,” she said adding that though the entire project would take a little time in execution, a few of the walls at the Railway station would be ready within next two weeks.

Geetanjali said people often spit paan on walls at public places and the presence of green trees on the walls could prove a deterrent for such people. She said, “I am open to provide consultation to anyone who is interested in having a vertical garden. We think that lack of space should not be hindrance in turning your surroundings green.” We both have created vertical gardens at many schools, offices and even at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran, she claimed.

Talking about the procedure, she said one needs used plastic bottles, screws to attach bottles to wall and a simple drip irrigation system. She said that people should use native plants as they are more tolerant to local weather conditions. She added that so far they have successfully tried 33 different kinds of plants.