NMC to Seek Self-Affidavits from Sapling Adopters in 5-Lakh Tree Drive Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has introduced a new initiative requiring individuals and institutions participating in its ambitious five-lakh-tree campaign to submit self-affidavits pledging to nurture and protect the saplings they plant. This measure aims to address the recurring issue of low sapling survival rates in past mass plantation drives, which often saw a significant number of trees failing to thrive after initial planting. Mayor Neeta Thakre emphasized that the affidavit system will shift the focus from merely planting trees to ensuring their long-term survival. “The responsibility of maintaining the saplings will rest with the organizations and individuals undertaking the drive,” she stated. The NMC has identified key plantation sites, including Sonegaon Amrai, Bhandewadi, and Sai Centre, with plans to expand the initiative to municipal and private schools, colleges, and other institutional campuses. Additional sites are expected to be finalized soon. To expedite preparations, the civic body has secured 10 pit-digging machines through MOIL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. These machines will be used to prepare planting pits ahead of the monsoon season, which is critical for sapling survival. The NMC will also provide tree guards to further enhance the chances of saplings thriving. The mayor highlighted the encouraging response from institutions, noting that Raisoni Education Group has already committed to adopting one lakh saplings. Several other organizations have also pledged support for the remaining plantations. Every sapling planted under the campaign will be geo-tagged, enabling officials to track their locations and monitor growth digitally.#bhandewadi #nagpur_municipal_corporation #neeta_thakre #sonegaon_amrai #raisoni_education_group
