Panvel: In a significant step towards environmental preservation and cleanliness, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC), under the leadership of Commissioner Magesh Chitale, successfully organized a large-scale lake clean-up drive at Kharghar Pond in Sector 35. This effort was part of the nationwide 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, which aligns with the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and emphasizes environmental cleanliness. The clean-up took place on September 18th, immediately following Ganesh Visarjan, aiming to remove discarded puja things and restore the water body.

Commissioner Chitale highlighted the importance of continuous efforts from all citizens to achieve a sustainable environment for future generations. He emphasized that the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, running from September 14th to October 1st, exemplifies the collaborative spirit of PMC, local NGOs, and community members in protecting natural resources. "The lake cleanup drive is just one of the many initiatives undertaken to ensure a healthier environment for the city's residents, reinforcing Navi Mumbai's commitment to Swachh Bharat," he stated.

Over 200 Swachh Sevakas from PMC, Ward Officers Jitendra Madhavi and Deputy Commissioner Ravi Kiran Ghodke Patil, along with Corporator Harish Kenny and Binod Gharat, actively participated in the extensive clean-up operation. Deputy Commissioner Ghodke Patil, who led the drive, stressed the importance of ongoing initiatives to preserve Navi Mumbai’s water bodies. He acknowledged the collective efforts of the PMC staff and expressed his vision of fostering greater environmental awareness among citizens to ensure a sustainable lifestyle.

The drive also saw active participation from volunteers of the 'Adopt the Nature' group, including Sudhir Patel and Jyoti Nandkarni, and students from the NSS wing of Ramsheth Thakur School. Together, they removed more than five truckloads of pooja materials, plastics, cotton, and other waste from the pond, disposing of it in accordance with the city's waste management protocols.

"This drive is part of the larger 'Our City, Our Responsibility' campaign, initiated by local authorities to maintain cleanliness and environmental sustainability across Navi Mumbai," shared Dharmendra Kar, founder of Way 2 ISR Foundation. For the past eight years, he has been actively involved in keeping the Kharghar water body clean. Through regular clean-up efforts and the planting of over 200 trees in the surrounding areas, his commitment to individual social responsibility has made a significant impact on the local environment. Under the "Ek Ped Maake Naam" campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Way 2 ISR Foundation, Vedic Sankrit Sangathan, and Divya Nur Foundation have planted more than 2,000 trees across Navi Mumbai this monsoon.

Local Corporator Harish Kenny, who took part in the post-Ganpati festival clean-up, urged citizens to avoid polluting water bodies during religious activities. He reminded residents that individual responsibility is crucial for protecting Navi Mumbai’s natural resources.