About 15 acres of barren common land in Sorkha village in Noida’s Sector 115 has been transformed into an urban forest with dense plantation over the past three years. NOIDA: With cities turning into concrete jungles and housing societies taking its place, very little of the once lush green forest patches are left now. The district administration undertook an experiment nearly three years ago to make the most of the little space available for trees in a city where real estate is of high value. About 15 acres of barren common land in Sorkha village in Noida’s Sector 115 has been transformed into an urban forest with dense plantation over the past three years. The district administration signed an MoU with HCL Foundation wherein land rights would remain with the administration while the company would take over responsibility of planation and afforestation in the area. “It was an uphill task from the beginning. The village common land was barren with layers of garbage, construction waste and other solid waste material. We had to start with getting it all cleaned. Initially, the village locals also thought that we may be trying to take over the land. Eventually, we involved the community in the plantation drives and they all love it now,” said Nidhi Punji, director of HCL Foundation.