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
NMC Begins Restoration of 300-Year-Old Bhonsle-Era Well in Sonegaon Amrai Two weeks after an inspection by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakahre, the civic body has initiated a large-scale clean-up operation of a nearly 300-year-old well in Sonegaon’s historic Amrai forest area. The structure, believed to have been constructed during the reign of Raghuji Raje Bhonsle-I, had fallen into disrepair, becoming a dumping ground filled with filth, algae, household waste, and liquor bottles. The restoration effort involved cranes, JCB machines, and water-pumping equipment to remove decades of accumulated debris. Workers retrieved hundreds of discarded liquor and beer bottles, plastic waste, wrappers, and other garbage that had accumulated both on the surface and within the historic structure. The well, a relic of the Bhonsle era and one of Nagpur’s lesser-known historical sites, had remained neglected for decades despite its location in the picturesque Sonegaon Amrai area. Constructed during the Bhonsle reign and later preserved during British rule, it once served as a key water source. Assistant commissioner of Laxminagar zone Dhananjay Jadhav stated that after the inspection, authorities checked whether the well was listed as a protected heritage structure due to its Bhonsle-era origins. While it was not officially recognized as a heritage monument, residents demanded its restoration, prompting the civic body to take action. Jadhav explained that the clean-up involved coordination with the fire department, arranging vehicles and machinery to pump out dirty water and remove debris. The effort gained momentum following repeated appeals by the citizen group “Save Sonegaon Amrai,” formed by residents and regular visitors of the area.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #shivani_dani_wakahre #sonegaon_amrai #save_sonegaon_amrai #dhananjay_jadhav
