Uploaded on 2015-12-15 by RuchaPimprikar

We shifted to my current residence about 20 years ago and then the area was lush green and well forested. Our view was lush paddy fields and Western Ghats and waterfalls. This was 1990. We could source a lot of vegetable from the small fields that surrounded our building. Today due to extensive development the agricultural land was bought over from the farmers and new high rise building stand in its place. Thane is known as the city of lakes. The fish and other seafood are still sourced from the various lakes in the city and the Thane creek that defines one end of the city. **Regulation Services** As a part of the development plan in Mumbai and surrounding areas the builders or developers were required to plant a trees in the areas that they were developing for residential purposes. As such a lot of trees are planted in the area that I live in. One can clearly differentiate between the temperature near at the city centre i.e. near the railway station and the area I live in. The entire area that our residential complex sits on was a forest land once upon a time with a lot of mango trees. Since is near a mountain range the ground level is naturally high. During the floods in Mumbai and the heavy rains in 2006 ours was one of the least affected areas. ![Internal road with gulmohar trees forming a canopy][1] **Habitat or Supporting Services** A couple of year ago one could spot a lot of birds in our area due to the trees and the western ghats (mountain range in Maharashtra) which are very close by. In the past few years a lot of buildings have given their terraces on rent for installing mobile towers. These are installed at a non standard height which is harmful in the long run for people. But an immediate effect is the stark drop in the number of birds in the area. The number of sparrows, parrots, mainas etc., has dropped a lot. The only species surviving the mobile towers are unfortunately the pigeons which are more of a nuisance than anything else. **Cultural Services** There are two parks located in my residential area both are within 5 minutes walking distance from my building. They are extensively used for jogging, walking and exercising. They are dense with green trees and provide a healthy and relatively quite environment. Its a completely different story that people travelling as much as me for work have barely any time to go to these parks. A natural lake is less than a kilometer away, is at the foot of a part the western ghats known as the Yeoor Hills. This is also a well used area for walking and exercising. The park next to the lake is equipped with a football ground a jogging track. Concerts and other cultural performances and events are held here. During the city festival this area draws a huge crowd. ![Vasant Vihar Residential Complex and its surroundings ][2] [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14502105693956592.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14502106389890036.jpg