Thane: In a first of its kind, the Thane municipal corporation will set up an organic farm in the city and encourage all city school students to plant and adopt a tree in their vicinity as part of the mission ‘Green Thane’ initiative, deputy CM Eknath Shinde announced Friday.
Shinde made the announcement after flagging off the three-day 14th Vrikshavalli green exhibition organised by the Thane corporation.
“There is a need to encourage organic farming within societies and homes considering the ill effects of chemical-laden fruits and vegetables sold in the markets. I have asked the Thane municipal commissioner to set up an organic farm on an experimental basis in the city and encourage citizens and societies to adopt the same within their homes or residential complexes. The climate of Thane is conducive and the soil fertile and compost can be procured from the corporation-operated facilities. Thane should set a model and become an example for other corporations to emulate,” he said.
Shinde also school students from the city to either plant a sapling or adopt a tree in their respective vicinity. “We already are working on several initiatives like clean and developed Thane and the time is ripe to promote the Green Thane concept. We have already planted lakhs of trees in the past and there is a need to widen the green cover using public participation. These students can adopt a tree and ensure they develop a sense of belonging towards it as they water and nurture it daily,” he said.
Shinde recounted his personal experience of cultivating vegetables on his bungalow garden and also within his vast farmland in his native land in Satara.
He urged the commissioner to ensure cultivation of bamboo plantations along the foothill route of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and increase the urban forest projects’ coverage in the city to counter the ill-effects of global warming too. Bamboo consumes Co2 and emits oxygen and the stretches where it is cultivated could be transformed into fitness and wellness zones,” he said urging more plantations along the Central Park and waterfront projects in the city.
