Citizens’ group to take on cyber fiends

Thane: The Mukherjees took pride in their 14-year-old daughter boasting of her rising friend count on the social networking sites. Sometime back, the Class XI student of a Ghodbunder school was caught by cops at a lonely street in a compromising position with three boys, all of whom she had met on the e-highway. 

    For Preeti Mishra, the web world has left her scarred forever. A victim of cyber-bullying, the school girl was the target of the gizmo savvy teens in their upscale complex here, as they posted insults on her social networking wall and flooded her e-mails with defamatory messages. 
    The side-effects of social networking sites are all too evident as more and more children, parents and educators are staring at the problem with little answers on how to deal with it. A Thane citizens' group of child counsellors and voluntary organizations has teamed up to create awareness about the e-world and have flagged off their campaign to make responsible netizens. 
    "We are basically seeking to educate children about being responsible for their actions. Our attempt is to prevent them from internet abuse and harassment. A preliminary survey showed heavy dependency on net and social networking sites. They are dangerously close to e-addictions and we have seen children going into depression due to this,'' said Unmesh Joshi, an active member of Ahhan Foundation. 
    With parents and elders not quite sure how to deal with the huge e-tide flooding their homes, the foundation 
and Yuvnomesh Pratisthan here are taking up the task of holding workshops in 103 schools and 20 junior colleges in Thane talking to children, teachers and parents. 
    Child counselor Sonali Patankar said online friendships is in vogue but there is no written rules on digital communication and parental neglect could prove disastrous as most children are getting addicted to the cyber space while ignoring the real world.

You can take a walk in Juhu woods soon 1,000 Trees Planted As Part Of Project

Mumbai: Picture this: A walk in the woods, with a dense growth of trees and varieties of birds chirping, plucking, sucking sap and honey. You could be excused for thinking this picturesque forest is in another country but it could be right here in Mumbai soon.      Welcome to the concept of a 'city forest' that will be part of developmental projects acting as buffer zones along creeks, water bodies and coastline edges.      After 25 years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will revert to its plan of providing Mumbai a 'city forest' on a plot adjacent  to Vidyanidhi High School at JVPD Scheme, Juhu, and create vital green lungs in the neighbourhood.      Work is in progress, with residents planting around 1,000 trees in the area as part of the plan conceptualized by architect P K Das.      "City forests essentially mean thick plantations of trees, creating an opportunity for bio-diversity and enrichment of environment. The presence of trees attracts birds, earthworms and insects. The trees become a buffer against abuse and misuse of eco-sensitive borders along rivers, lakes, creeks and nullahs," said Das.      On how urban forests will help Mumbai, Das said, "Forests enrich soil conditions, enable the water table to rise and increasingly forests fight and control carbon cover. They enrich air quality, and like a factory clean our air and generate healthy conditions for living."      "Residents are happy as they have finally reclaimed their city forest. It is a precious plot of land as it adjoins Kaifee Azmi Park, which means a larger area for recreation. This is what we refer to as democratization of public space," said Hansel D'Souza, president, Juhu Citizens' Welfare Group.      Ashoke Pandit, a resident of Juhu, said the 'city forest' is a necessity today.     Javed Akhtar's Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds will be utilized for the 'city forest', which will extend to Kaifi Azmi Park, Bonzai Park, go up to PVR theatre and culminate opposite Rithambara College in Juhu.  HOW GREEN WILL BE MY CITY  Controversial Past      Earmarked 23-acre 'city forest' has an entire belt of over 1,000 trees      Will start from BMC's recreation ground plot in Juhu, where hundreds of trees were hacked by a private agency to construct a club      Juhu residents fought a seven-year battle to save their open space      BMC cancelled lease of the agency in 2011 to execute former municipal commissioner S S Tinaikar's 1987 plan for a 'city forest' in the area  Other Forests  Maharashtra Nature Park (Mahim), a hidden gem that was born on a dumping ground  BPT Gardens, developed on a landfill area  Land's End in Bandra (W), where residents have grown a 'forest'  The Grand Plan  Plan includes growing a forest alongside the Irla nullah, building walking and cycling tracks, introducing cultural spaces such as small amphitheatres, an art exhibition centre, a children's play area and a garden PLANT ZONE: BMC is executing a 1987 plan for a city forest in Juhu