In Jamli (Mhow), a retired college principal has achieved a remarkable feat of afforestation, echoing the tenacity of the renowned “Forest Man” Jadav Payeng. While Payeng single-handedly transformed a barren Assam sandbar into a lush 1,360-acre woodland over decades, SL Garg has turned a barren hillock in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow into a thriving 50,000-tree plantation in just 10 years.
From Rocky Barren to Green Oasis
The 75-year-old Indore resident, who prefers to stay away from flashy monikers, has changed what was once a landscape of exposed rock with no water source, no shade, and few signs of life. Now, Keshar Parvat—the hillock in Jamli village that embodies Garg’s passion—hosts olives from Spain, dragon fruits from Thailand, dates from Mexico, Latin American avocados, saffron from Kashmir, and medicinal species from across India. These plants grow side by side across the hill’s 22 acres, attracting birds, pollinators, and small wildlife.
A Living Laboratory, Not a Commercial Orchard
Garg treated the hill as a living laboratory rather than a commercial orchard, testing whether plants from different climatic zones could adapt together. “Indore alone needs at least ten Keshar Parvats. If every city creates even one such forest, environmental conservation will no longer remain a discussion. It will become reality,” the former principal says. Initially, the idea was not to build a forest. In 2015, Garg saw the rocky hill while passing through the area. Farmers and village representatives urged him to purchase the land. Pooling his savings and seeking support from his elder son, who was then in the US, he acquired the hill for Rs 70 lakh.
Overcoming Early Setbacks
In 2016, Garg began planting saplings. The first year brought modest progress, but a fire in 2019 destroyed nearly 1,000 trees. Rather than abandon the project, Garg restarted the plantation drive and expanded it further. The hill had no natural water source initially. For years, Garg purchased water from nearby villagers, spending nearly Rs 50,000 every month. Water was transported to the hill, stored in a man-made lake, and distributed through a drip irrigation network.
Ecological Restoration and Groundwater Revival
Over time, as vegetation cover increased and the soil began retaining moisture, groundwater started reappearing. Borewells that once yielded nothing began showing water, offering proof that ecological restoration can gradually influence local hydrology. Now, Keshar Parvat hosts more than 600 species of plants.
Saffron Cultivation Experiment
Among the most unusual experiments is saffron cultivation. Determined to test whether the high-value crop could survive outside Kashmir, Garg’s team contacted Kashmir Agricultural University, which connected them with an experienced saffron farmer. The farmer travelled to Keshar Parvat with saffron corms and trained workers. Black cotton soil was replaced with red soil that offered better drainage. Around 1,000 corms were planted. Garg even experimented using chilled water to mimic cooler Himalayan temperatures. The first season produced only 10 to 15 flowers. Later, the corms multiplied, generating over 1,000 additional plants and demonstrating that saffron could adapt far from its traditional region.
