Mumbai: Development and conservation needed to go hand in hand and is well ingrained in Indian culture — though Nature imposes its own form of justice if such activities are against the benefit of the environment, according to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray 

Lamenting the disappearance of verdant “velvet green” grass from the cities, the chief minister urged for understanding and nurturing every element of the environment. He also released a coffee table book titled “Biosentinels of Coastal Maharashtra” during a +World Environment Day+ programme here on June 5 in which he felicitated gram panchayats, nagar parishads, ‘Amrut’ cities and government officials.. 

Highlighting the need for participation at all levels of society in ensuring care of the environment, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the Corona pandemic has exposed the importance of oxygen and need for adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle including use of solar energy and pollution-free vehicles. 

Maharashtra Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray said the ‘Majhi Vasundhara’ campaign – during which 21.94 lakh trees were planted to protect the land –.was aimed at protecting the environment and reducing the carbon footprint. 

Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat lauded the efforts of Aditya Thackeray and his team in promoting environmental protection through participation of local self-government bodies in villages and towns in the ‘Majhi Vasundhara’ campaign. Rural Development Minister Hasan Mushrif announced active participation of the Rural Development Department in the “Majhi Vasundhara ‘ Campaign for 2021-22. 

In the “Majhi Vasundhara” Abhiyan awards distributed online by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister, the +Amrut Cities+ section witnessed Thane, Navi Mumbai and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation declared first, second and third respectively.  

 This campaign highlighted environmental efforts including: 21.94 lakh trees being planted across Maharashtra; 1650 green areas being created in cities and villages and 237 old green areas being revived; wet waste segregated, sorted out and processed in a scientific manner, besides 10,663 tons of compost manure being prepared per month through which sequestration of 63,982.5 tons of carbon dioxide being done. 

Local bodies were encouraged to adopt rainwater harvesting and percolation processes, and around 6,000 old buildings and 3,500 new buildings adopted these systems, besides around 1,500 rainwater percolation sites being prepared.  As a result of these efforts, a water conservation capacity of 11,145 million litres has been created — which is equivalent to Maharashtra’s one-day water requirement. 

Meanwhile, participating organizations carried out work of cleaning 775 water bodies in the state, while12.23 lakh LED bulbs and 70 thousand solar lights were installed – thus saving 1.4 lakh units of electricity. Around 736 biogas plants and 701 solar pumps were installed in rural areas during the campaign, which reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 32.5 tonnes. 

The Environment Minister said that the ‘Majhi Vasundhara’ Campaign has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 3,70,978 tons in the first year alone – which amounts to carbon dioxide absorbed by 1.7 crore trees or trees in the Aarey forests.