According to Mr Philippe Charraudeau, general manager at The Leela: "Our efforts are evident in and around Mumbai. The green belt lines even the most unseemly slum areas, giving credence to the philosophy of our founder that even the poorest man deserves a green cover." Spread over almost 100 acres of land, straight from the airport to the entire Sahar area, there are 5,000 coconut trees, which have been transported all the way from Kerala in an attempt to revive the old tradition of providing food to travellers, adds Mr Charraudeau.

A variety of plants, trees and shrubs have been planted, not only in the neighbourhood, but in the entire city of Mumbai. Today, even the city slums no longer look like slums. The idea behind the greening of the area is not only to motivate people, particularly the poor, but to recognise that they too can brighten their lives by cleaning and greening their environment, he adds.

Rookeries have been built, and mini-forests and landscaped gardens created to beautify the slums and give the travellers and slum dwellers a whiff of fresh air. Besides, taxi drivers too get a place to relax under the trees.

The hotel has also provided 200 cement benches under the trees.Vijay Sethi, The Leela's resident manager, says the hotel has become a model that has stimulated the entire hotel industry in India to develop environmentally sound and sustainable management practices.

"The idea of creating a green belt came up when the founder returned from Singapore way back in 1985, just when it was awakening to its deteriorating environment," says Mr Sethi.

The airport road has not only been widened, but is now bordered with several metres of plumerias, hibiscus, bougainvillaea and exora. The trees not only add colour to the roads, but provide shade and employment to the slum dwellers, and shelter to weary travellers.

According to Mr Sethi, there are 25 guards who go around to check the condition of the plants and the trees, and they are helped by children in the slums, who guard the trees. What needs to be noted here is that the trees are not given chemical fertilisers, but natural manure and purified water, reveals Mr Sethi.

The hotel has its own nursery planted, which supplies exotic flowers and trees for the beautification of both the hotel and the city of Mumbai.