The Greenhouse' Effect

BHUBANESWAR: A patch of sylvan not only soothes the eyes, it also cools. Fresh sprigs and a motley collection of crotons amid a spewing fountain over a bed of soft grass can do wonders to sensibilities in the suffocating ambience of apartment living in urban India. No wonder, more and more people are turning to rooftop gardening for a breath of fresh air.But experts say there's more to the floral appeal. A garden on the terrace cools, reduces carbon emission and makes optimum use of rain water. With most apartments going for rainwater harvesting, what better way could there be than a verdant spread to absorb the accumulating drops?
When Saroj Rath, an artist, built his dream house in the Old Town area, there was only one facility lacking: There wasn't enough space for an elaborate garden. But nature enthusiast Rath wasn't one to give up. "I had a garden made on my terrace to bring nature into the house," he said.
His rooftop garden is in full bloom now with mango (alphanso), sapota, cashew nut and guava vying for attention. He also has a huge collection of flowering plants, including lilies. Raised about 20 ft from the ground, it attracts scores of birds and also a few squirrels.
Rath's passion is shared by bank officer Ambika Prasad Mishra and his wife Mina. The couple has been maintaining terrace and kitchen gardens for the past seven years. "The terrace garden has now become a part of our life. I can forget to eat but not forget to water my plants and spend some time in the garden," said home-maker Mina.
The house of P K Subudhi, another bank officer in Saubhagya Nagar, has a well-tended lawn and colourful flower beds. He made the lawn on the roof of his garage.
These nature lovers have found an answer to a dilemma many city dwellers face. Only a privileged few in a fast growing city like Bhubaneswar can have real gardens. But the lack of ground space for a garden hasn't stopped them from pursuing their green dreams. They have either converted their terrace or balcony into a sylvan oasis.
"The first and extremely important step is to have your terrace water-proofed. Otherwise there's a risk of leaks. Also, the terrace must be strengthened so that it can take the weight of the earthy base and grass," said Rath. "I have made sufficient arrangements for water on the rooftop so that the plants don't go dry. The garden also helps to keep the house cool in summer," he added.
Mina Mishra, who produced about 15 kg of tomato last season, grows cabbage, brinjal, cucumber, lady finger, pumpkin and bitter gourd in her rooftop paradise. She also has a lotus tank complete with a tortoise. Construction wastes like marbles and ceramic tiles have been most judiciously used to create the garden.
"Rooftop gardens need extra care as plants are exposed to direct sunlight, strong winds and severe cold. A protective overhead shade is always recommended," said Mishra.
Vice president of Plant Lovers' Association, B B Mohanty, said, rooftop gardening is the latest fad among house-owners. "People have no option but to go for rooftop gardening. There are many ways to brighten up a garden, like going for lush lawns, kitchen gardens, landscaping and having a profusion of potted plants. Some are even going for arica palms, mangoes and guavas," said Mohanty.
Mohanty said the association organises workshops and seminars on rooftop and terrace gardening where experts answer queries of plant lovers and provide tips. "We also conduct competitions to encourage people to take up rooftop gardening," added Mohanty.
Secretary of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Srikant Kabi, said, "We have made rainwater harvesting mandatory. Those who are planning a terrace garden, can make use of this rainwater. It would also help in getting carbon ratings and keeping the environment cool."
Prafulla Chandra Parida, a civil engineer, said, "If you are planning a rooftop garden, keep it in mind at the time of planning. If the building is new then one can go for proper water proofing with slopes and accordingly give the look of a natural garden. However, for old terraces one needs to form a base above the ground with iron frames. This is further strengthened with fibre sheets," said Parida.
Himanshu Sekhar Samntaray, a real estate developer, said, "In both my housing projects I kept in mind the need of in-house and rooftop gardening and so I tried to carve out balconies and terraces with plantation and drainage facilities."
Nursery owners said in the last few years the trend has been catching on. "Many plant lovers take us to their houses and seek suggestions on plant varieties and designs for their terrace gardens. We also order specially designed pots according to the needs of customers," said S K Khan of Siraj Nursery.