Mayor emphasizes on the importance of striking a balance between development & environmental conservation
MCC organizes cleanliness & plantation drives across all 35 wards in city*
Chandigarh, June 5:- Emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between development and environmental conservation, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh today organized Tree plantation, plogging activities, cleaning drives and thanks giving ceremonies to those who donated their reusable items in RRR centres in all 35 wards of city beautiful.
The environment day celebration started with the plogging and cleaning at Valley of Animals park, Sector 49 by the city Mayor Sh. Anup Gupta and Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, MCC followed by plantation drive at a green belt, sector 21 C&D and cleaning and plantation drives at Topiary park sector 35, Trikona park, 38 West by ‘Green Brigade’, Community centre and Green belt, 46 and Green belt, Indra colony, Manimajra. During the programmes Mayor, Commissioner and respective area councilors of all 35 wards participated in cleaning, plogging atcitivies and planted saplings of various ornamental trees besides thanking the citizens at the RRR centres (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle centres) for donating their reusable household items for the last 15 days.
While speaking on the occasion, the Mayor said that it was a day to engage people, communities; accelerate the action for environment and amplify the buzz for adopting a sustainable lifestyle among the masses. He said that going forward with the belief that “Our Environment is Our Responsibility”, all citizens should join hands actively in the cleanliness as well as plantation drives at their respective areas.
He said that under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission, which has made cleanliness, a mass movement across the nation, MCC is leaving no stone unturned to improve the cleanliness and sanitation status of the city, with its intensified efforts. He emphasized on the importance of maintaining a clean and green environment and urged the people of Chandigarh not to litter waste in public places and use twin bins for waste segregation. Responsible behavior and cooperation shown by the public, combined with efforts of the Safaikaramchari toiling day and night, Chandigarh can strive for becoming the cleanest city of the country, the Mayor said.
In addition to that formal closing ceremonies were organized of RRR centres established by the MCC in all the 35 wards under the “Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Sheher” campaign wherein the officials thanked the area councilors for motivating and mobilizing the public for donating at RRR centres and the citizens for their generous contributions.
Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Commissioner, MCC said on the occasion that the campaign was a huge success, and gained remarkable support from the residents of city beautiful, who came forward to make donations of several items ranging from old but quality clothes, utensils, toys, books, stationery, footwear, electronic gadgets promoting the principles of 3R’s which is Reuse, Reduce and Recycle.
She said that the campaign was not just limited to merely collection of the donated items, but also to close the loop of end disposal for nearly 1 tones of goods donated big-heartedly by the citizens at the 35 RRR Centres and also through mobile collection vehicle “Swachh Sawari” collecting donations at doorstep. In collaboration with different handling partners viz. Self Help Groups and NGOs, MCC will ensure refurbishment, upcycling and repair of donated items before it reaches to someone in need, said the Commissioner.
With an ambitious annual target to plant 54399 (6025 trees and 48374 shrubs) saplings, around 930 saplings of flowering trees and shrubs were planted in parks/greenbelts spread across all the wards today. The plantation drives across all the wards of the city were led by the Area councilors getting massive and excellent response from the general public who showed active participation in the celebration of World Environment Day.
Different varieties of plants were planted during the drive such as Chukrasia, Neem, Amaltas, Jamun, Gulmohar, Jacaranda, Mango, Koelreutaria, Sita AshokMolsari, Camphor, Pilkhan, Bahera, Alstonia, Jatropha, Raat ki raani, Hamaelia, Hibiscus etc. comprising of flowering trees, shrubs and other medicinal plants, some of which have a lifespan of over 100 years. In addition to that, around 1,14,000 shrubs will be planted in different V3 roads in Sectors 31 to 63 under NCAP during this year.
