The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has announced an ambitious plan to plant five lakh saplings across the city over the next year, aiming to enhance green cover and combat rising urban temperatures. The initiative will be launched by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on World Environment Day, June 5, as part of a broader environmental conservation and cleanliness campaign that will continue until June 21.
Details of the Plantation Drive
Announcing the programme on Wednesday, Mayor Neeta Thakre stated that the plantation drive is designed to strengthen the city's ecological balance. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, saplings will be planted in gardens, along riverbanks, near lakes, on the city's outskirts, and across all wards with the active participation of corporators and residents.
Preparations are already underway, with pits being readied ahead of the monsoon season. The drive will be executed jointly by NMC's Garden Department and the Social Forestry Department. To enhance the survival rate of saplings, the civic body will involve senior citizens, police friends, mohalla committees, and non-governmental organizations in their upkeep and monitoring.
Cleanliness and E-Waste Drives
The campaign will also feature an extensive cleanliness drive covering lakes, gardens, religious places, markets, transport hubs, crematoriums, heritage structures, and tourist attractions. Additionally, NMC will undertake a special electronic waste collection drive across the city.
Mayor Thakre appealed for public participation, emphasizing that cleanliness cannot be sustained through municipal efforts alone and requires active citizen involvement. She added that the campaign aims to foster lasting behavioural change rather than remain a one-off exercise.
Water Hyacinth Removal and Encroachment Action
Mayor Thakre also said that NMC has stepped up efforts to clear water hyacinth from city lakes. With new machinery deployed, the civic body is removing between 150 and 200 tonnes of the invasive weed daily and targets its complete eradication from water bodies.
On encroachment, Thakre stated that the ongoing 'Mission 100 Days' drive will continue, with stringent steps to curb re-encroachment and keep footpaths clear for pedestrians.
Community Engagement and Events
As part of the awareness campaign, NMC will organize a cycle marathon on June 7 and has appealed to citizens to participate in large numbers. To ensure broad community participation, NMC has already held meetings with representatives of social organizations, government departments, religious institutions, market associations, transport bodies, builders' groups, and social media influencers.
