The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has received a generous land donation of four acres from the city’s Cloth Market Society.
The parcel, strategically located on Kesharbagh Road, will be developed into an urban forest using the ecologically advanced Miyawaki method of plantation—aimed at fostering rapid and dense forest growth in a short time. This donation marks an important step in the city’s broader agenda to combat air pollution, reduce carbon footprint, and create environmentally inclusive public spaces. The civic body is aiming to plant approximately 1.25 lakh saplings at the site, making it one of the most ambitious greening efforts in the region.
Senior civic officials, including the mayor-in-charge, additional commissioners, horticulture department heads and representatives of the donor society, recently inspected the land to assess its suitability and discuss the detailed roadmap for the upcoming plantation drive. During the visit, authorities deliberated on logistics, species selection, irrigation systems, and maintenance protocols essential for the long-term health of the forest. According to officials, the decision to adopt the Miyawaki method—a Japanese afforestation technique that enables the growth of self-sustaining, native forests within a decade—is both strategic and scientific. The model encourages biodiversity and helps accelerate carbon sequestration, a much-needed intervention in urban spaces suffering from concrete sprawl and rising pollution levels. The technique is being increasingly embraced in Indian cities due to its proven success in generating dense, resilient ecosystems within constrained urban land parcels.
The initiative is part of Indore’s expanding green infrastructure programme. Widely recognised as India’s cleanest city for several consecutive years, Indore is now looking to replicate its sanitation success with equally robust efforts in climate action and urban ecology. The plantation drive not only addresses environmental concerns but also contributes to the city’s climate resilience, urban cooling, and wellness goals. City officials have emphasised the importance of executing the project within a defined timeframe, especially with the upcoming monsoon season providing an ideal window for plantation. Instructions have been issued to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and workforce for sapling procurement, soil preparation, and the installation of drip irrigation systems. The civic body is also working with environmental experts and urban forestry consultants to select a mix of indigenous species that are best suited to the local soil and climate.
Apart from the main plantation at the donated site, the IMC has also planned a comprehensive greening drive across the city. Additional afforestation is set to take place along the ring road, on median strips, and across green belts—aiming to weave a continuous green corridor throughout Indore’s urban fabric. Civic planners believe this green expansion will play a vital role in improving air quality, enhancing biodiversity, and creating public spaces that offer citizens an escape from the increasingly urbanised environment. Experts involved in the project highlighted that while plantation is a crucial first step, the true success of such initiatives lies in sustained maintenance. City authorities are currently drafting a five-year maintenance blueprint to ensure high sapling survival rates, including mechanisms for regular watering, protective fencing, and seasonal audits. Community engagement is also expected to play a central role, with schools, local businesses, and residential societies being encouraged to take part in plantation drives and forest care activities.
The move to convert donated land into an urban forest also exemplifies the power of public-private partnership in advancing climate-positive actions. The Cloth Market Society’s decision to contribute prime land in a bustling commercial area is seen as a civic-minded gesture aligned with the city’s long-term sustainability goals. Officials noted that such collaborations are key to achieving ambitious environmental targets without placing excessive financial burden on municipal budgets. Indore’s green aspirations are being driven not just by aesthetics or civic pride but by the urgency of environmental challenges. The city, like many in India, faces rising temperatures, reduced tree cover, and increasing air pollution—all exacerbated by rapid urbanisation. Projects like this signal a shift in urban governance—one that places ecological health at the heart of infrastructure planning.
As Indore prepares for this massive plantation exercise, it positions itself as a frontrunner among Indian cities in reimagining what sustainable urban growth can look like. The transformation of this four-acre parcel into a vibrant, living forest could serve as a model for other cities grappling with similar environmental issues. While much depends on timely execution and sustained maintenance, the foundations being laid reflect a city deeply invested in shaping a greener and healthier future for its residents
Indore Expands Green Cover with 4 Acre Forest
