Thane Municipal Corporation launches cleanliness campaign in Kopri, citizens in large numbers join-in

Thane Municipal Corporation TMC on Monday launched a largescale deep clean drive in the Kopri area under its NaupadaKopri wardLocals also turned out in large numbers to lend a helping hand in the special cleanliness driveThe campaign led by mayordesignate Sharmila Pimpalolkar began at 730 am from Ashtavinayak Chowk with a cleanliness pledgePimpalolkar said the initiative launched with the slogan ldquoDuty first then charge of officerdquo would be expanded across Thane city and stressed the need for active public participationSeveral corporators and senior civic officials were present during the drive including Malti Patil Namrata Pamnani and Bharat Chavan along with Additional Commissioners Sandeep Malvi and Prashant Rode Deputy Commissioners Madhukar Bodke and Deepak Jhinjad Health Officer Dr Rani Shinde and other senior officials also took partThe drive covered Kopri village Kanhaiya Nagar Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk and Bara Bangla Apart from garbage collection roads were washed using treated water from sewage treatment plantsStudents and teachers from multiple schools including Peoplersquos Education Society School Nanik English School Shri Ma Balniketan Vidyasagar Education Society and Jeevan Jyoti English Medium School participated to spread awareness about cleanliness and segregation of wet and dry waste Officials from departments such as gardens water supply encroachment sewerage and education also joined the initiativeStudents carried placards and raised slogans promoting cleanliness including ldquoClean and beautiful Thane let this be our resolverdquoCivic officials said jetting machines water tankers two C and D waste vehicles JCB dumpers and three 10tonne RC compactors were deployed for the drive with around 700 sanitation workers pressed into serviceAarey tribals flag garbage crisisResidents of tribal hamlets in Mumbais Aarey Milk Colony have stepped up their demand for an effective garbage collection and disposal system The lack of regular waste management has become a pressing concern often forcing residents to dump trash outside their settlements Locals warn that the mounting garbage is increasingly threatening the surrounding forest ecosystem and wildlifeTribal leader Prakash Bhoir said there are around 2700ndash2800 voters across 27 tribal hamlets in Aarey Milk Colony where indigenous residents have lived for generations yet garbage collection remains neglectedldquoThe BMC collects waste from slum pockets in Aarey but our hamlets are ignored We are appealing to candidates contesting the civic polls to ensure regular garbage collection and proper disposal in tribal areas so that waste is not dumped in the open which poses a serious threat to wildliferdquo Bhoir saidA site visit by MidDay revealed garbage dumped at multiple locations outside the hamlets due to the absence of nearby public dustbins In contrast garbage bins have been installed outside slum pockets in Aarey Milk Colony from where the BMC collects waste dailyDilip Jadhav a resident of Vanichapada said ldquoWe want the corporator elected from our area to protect the forest from encroachment while ensuring daily garbage collectionrdquo With no proper system in place some residents are forced to dump waste at common points and later burn it once it accumulates further contributing to air pollution