This was not so even a few years back. With the idea of vertical living taking root in Gurgaon, the city was fast losing its tree cover to apartment blocks and residential plots even though private developers and the Haryana government had sold the millennium dream as a ``clean and green'' city. The widening of the National Highway-8 further ate into the green space. But so far, both the state government and developers have shown scant interest in going for plantation drives to make up for the loss.

``All norms of leaving enough space for greenery had been violated. Though, we can't say that development activity should stop, we certainly feel the government and private developers should find a way out to compensate for the green cover lost,'' said an official of the state forest department.

Peeved by the lackadaisical attitude of the government and developers, the residents started looking up other alternatives to bring the green closer home. They begun planting saplings in their plots and keeping potted plants in their homes. The Asthana family, for example, decided to go for a garden instead of building two more rooms in their plot.

Says Dr Kishore Asthana, an IIMAhmedabad alumni, ``Plants are important for maintaining the ecological balance. And it takes a lot of effort and determination to plant saplings in your plot where you could have constructed two more rooms. But the increasing awareness among people is visible now. Everyone is making an effort to bring greenery close to their lives.''

Walk into any flat or courtyard of a house here, and you would know what he means. That people now have more disposable income at hand has also helped in the greening process, besides the planned development of residential sectors, say experts.