Nagpur: For NMC, the year 2015-16 is valuable for a variety of activities, and one among them is ‘environment protection’, under which it is going to plant trees throughout the year. This cause will be effected from August 9, 2015, Kranti Divas.
Expressing his views during a meeting in this regard, held on Aug 3 at Dr Panjabrao Deshmukkh Memorial Hall in the NMC premises, NMC Mayor Praveen Datke appealed to all citizens to develop love for Nature and devote their time and labour for tree plantation drive being launched by NMC from Aug 9, Kranti Day.
Also present in the meeting included office-bearers of Rotary, Lions, Jaysees, educational institutions, private organizations, Vanrai, NGOs and others. NMC office-bearers, namely, Munna Pokulwar, Ramesh Shingare, Sunil Agrawal, Balya Borkar, Jayant Dandegaonkar, Pramod Bhusari, Sudhir mate, Dr Gajendra Mahalle and others also registered their presence in the meeting.
Datke further said, the NMC wants to ensure that the city remains green, clean and healthy, for which the cooperation of every citizens is a must. This goal can be achieved only when every body is made aware of the drive through various bodies associated with NMC’s plan of development of environment.
According to him, in the present situation there are about 23 lakh trees in the city, and this is the reason why Nagpur city enjoys the status of green belt city of second number. He said, now there is need to plant about 50,000 trees under new drive so that the city might be made more green. He stressed the need to protect trees as human health is protected and care from its early stage. He directed the town planning department not to sanction maps of building construction unless the builders obtain the NoC from horticulture department in order to ensure more tree-plantation and their growth in the city. He also directed that illegal felling of trees must be dealt strictly.
Those who also expressed their views in the meeting included Dr Pinak Dande (Dande Hospital and Vanrai), Principal Prabhuji Deshpande, Kaustuv Chatterjee (G V Foundation). Nitin Jatkar (Vanrai), Swanand Soni (Srushti Paryavaran), Ashutosh Tiwari (G S College), Rajesh Adiacha, Dr Saroj Aglawe (Mahila Mahavidyalaya), Dr Vandana Bhagdikar, Geeta Kuhikar, Shankar Ingole, Ambreesha Ghatate, Sanjay Deshpande, Pratik Dadhe, Shrikant Deshpande, P Mujumdar (Hislop College), Gayatri Choudhari and others.
It was informed to all in the meeting that the progress of tree-plantation drive would be reviewed on third Friday of every month, informed a press note issued by NMC.
