CHENNAI: Potted plants, bamboo shoots and even canvas shoes filled with earth seem to be the green artifacts in MB Nirmal’s high rise home in Koyambedu. This reporter got a glimpse yesterday of what this environmental activist calls “a real jungle inside a concrete jungle”, a day before it’s display this evening. The campaign titled ‘Fight global warming in your home’ will be inaugarated by actor Vivek at 4pm. It showcases 250 potted plants in the apartment, including a sky farming horticultural balcony.Now, the term ‘pot’ is subjective in this case. There are handmade table vases carved out of thermocole sprouting tulsi, glass bowls with freshly planted lavender, a vertical grey pipe making room for four different money plants ascending upward. There is even criss cross plastic trays placed one on top of the other aligned to provide just enough space for four plants each!Certainly, an innovative use of space. But the question arises, what about people who don’t have this luxury? Nirmal answers, “Plants are willing to grow anywhere. I think people should make some space in their minds first.” He adds, “I have a team of green architects who will come to your house if anyone is interested and provide tips on indoor pollution prevention, energy saving, waste minimisation and of course a home garden like this one.” Although the cost of purchasing and maintaining so many plants in a house can cost a bomb, (a whopping `70,000), the Exnora Director reveals that he shaved close to `50,000 off the cost by using bits of waste that he found.As we continue to tour the house, Nirmal says, “This is a 100 per cent zero waste flat. Even the water we use to wash our rice and vegetables go into the plants, because they are full of nutrients.” He adds, “Ideally you can’t re-use the water you use to wash your vessels, but we make it a point to use organic detergent sourced from Vellore that is plant friendly as well.” Surprising our next stop is the bathroom, and perhaps owing to lack of light, there isn’t a single plant in the vicinity. However, Nirmal steps over to the flush tank, lifts the lid and asks this reporter to take a guess as to why there is a 500 ml bottle of water sitting in the tank.One less bottle in the fridge perhaps? Although, I wouldn’t think the family guests would be too pleased. Apparently, (and this is interesting to note), a single pull of your toilet flush consumes five litres of water. Nirmal contributes, “Every flush in the house has one of these bottles. This way, it saves half a litre or more.” For details, call 9940431811 or 9840909226.
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