``When the institute found that the land it owned in this rocky area was not conducive to construction, we thought of planting trees in the area,'' says Uttamrao Patil, general secretary of the organisation. This, of course, was easier said than done, for the institute had to contend with rocky area deemed unfit for vegetation. Besides the Shahu Vanvihar, another 10 acres of land at Aranyeshwar was also brought under the afforestation programme.

Activity towards the development of the site started in 1983, without aid from any government agency. In the first phase, the land had to be made suitable for plantation. The rocky area was levelled using bulldozers and fertile soil carted from outside to fill in the gaps and gullies formed due to stone-quarrying. The soil was also spread across the open denuded surface. ``Soil- and moisture-conservation measures like plugging gullies using loose boulders, building cement nala bunds and trenches were also taken up. Roads had to be prepared for inspection and supervision of the plantation work,'' says Patil.

Plantation at the site began in 1991, when under the government of Maharashtra's plantation scheme, the forest department was to provide seedlings and the required guidance and expertise for the project. ``However, due to lack of funds, the State Government withdrew from the project and the institute has since carried out the work on its own steam, spending approximately Rs. 1 lakh per year for the area. Prior to 1995, 65,000 seedlings were planted in the area and their survival rate was 70 per cent,'' says Patil. Today gliricidia, eucalyptus, sirus, jacaranda, cassia, acacia and gulmohar are just some of the species that can be found in this area, which has over one lakh trees.

An electric motor was installed in the nearby canal, which carries water from the Khadakwasla dam to the Shahu Vanvihar through a galvanised iron pipeline. Rubber pipes attached to the pipeline further distributed the water to the plantation. To guard against frequent grazing and encroachment from slums near the area, barbed wire fencing was put into place all along the border of the plantation area. Says Sudam Kamble of the organisation, ``It was initially difficult to keep grazing animals out of the premises. Now, two guards monitor the area and a nominal fine is enforced on encroachers. The institute has worked out an agreement with the residents of the slums according to which they would be given access through the afforested area if they did not, in any way, harm the plantation.''

However, plastic bags and refuse from the slums below regularly make their way to the Vanvihar, necessitating cleaning of the area. ``Student volunteers are actively involved in cleaning the area of refuse and weeding the soil. Every year, the institute involves NSS and NCC students in encouraging tree plantation and protection of seedlings. Seminars and workshops are also held to create awareness about the environment,'' says Patil.

The verdant environs, coupled with its tranquility, make it an ideal spot for walks. Everyday, about 1,000 people take their constitutional along the muddy paths of the Vanvihar. While there are benches near the ground of the Shahu College at the foothills of the Vanvihar, there are no places to rest one's feet on the way. ``We are planning to provide benches and a park in the Vanvihar as and when funds are made available. Although we had requested the State Government for funds, they have not sanctioned any. We have been maintaining the Vanvihar on our own and will have to continue to do so,'' says Patil.

The dedicated efforts of the institute towards afforestation have been recognised through the Maharashtra Rajya Vanashree Puraskar, 1996. An effort which is worthy of replication.