10 crore tree plantation drive a shared responsbility, reiterates Bawankule
2
Nagpur: A high-level review meeting on the ambitious '10 Crore Tree Plantation' campaign was held on Saturday at Planning Bhavan in Nagpur, during which cabinet minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said this initiative must not be looked at only as a 'govt responsibility' but as 'shared responsibility' with the society at large.
Also present during the meeting was minister of state for finance, planning, agriculture, relief and rehabilitation, law and justice, labour, and assistant guardian minister of Gadchiroli, Ashish Jaiswal.
The meeting focused on reviewing the plantation progress so far and finalising strategies to meet the upcoming targets. Bawankule said, "Tree plantation is not just a government initiative but a shared responsibility.
It is essential for maintaining environmental balance and creating a sustainable future."
On behalf of the forest department, Dr Vinita Vyas, DCF (territorial) presented a summary of department-wise targets and key highlights from the government resolution. Dr Vyas also outlined Nagpur Forest Division's planning framework to contribute to the state-wide mission.
A detailed review of plantation data achieved so far was shared, followed by discussions on action plans for the remaining period.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
SNS에서 화제인 그 팔찌, 예쁜데 의미까지...
굿네이버스
더 알아보기
Undo
All government departments were directed to fast-track implementation and ensure coordination at all levels.
Officials from all departments, civic bodies, voluntary organisations, and local representatives also took part in the discussions.
Senior forest and administrative officials were present, including principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Srinivas Rao, chief conservator of forests (Pench tiger project) Kishor Mankar, field director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve Prabhu Nath Shukla, Nagpur collector Vipin Itankar, NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, SP (rural) Harssh Poddar, field director of Navegaon-Nagzira tiger project Jayram Gauda, deputy director (Pench tiger project) Akshay Gajbhiye, additional commissioner of NMC Vaishnavi B, CEO of Zilla Parishad Nagpur Vinayak Mahamuni, divisional forest officer (social forestry) NR Raut, and assistant conservator of forests Yash Sumerkumar Kale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tarot Card Predictions Today, July 21, 2025: Stars Reveal Big Changes for These Zodiac Signs
Let the cards guide you today! Your tarot reading offers insight into love, career, and personal growth. Take the message to heart and move through the day with confidence and clarity. Trust the process and let the cards reveal what you need to know. Aries Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Emperor Today brings a strong energy of leadership and confidence, dear Aries. The Emperor Tarot card reminds you that embracing change will bring you closer to the success you truly deserve. You may face decisions that feel risky, but trust your strength. Your actions today can create a powerful impact on your future. Embrace change as a pathway to new opportunities and build your empire with pride. Lucky Advice: Take bold step with courage. Taurus Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Hierophant The Hierophant guides you today, Taurus, helping you unlock inner wisdom through intuition. You might feel pulled towards a spiritual insight or a silent knowing — follow it. It's not the day for overthinking, but for trusting the feelings you usually ignore. Unexpected messages can come through dreams or casual talks. Let your inner voice be your guide as you step into a day full of quiet revelations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Your intuition will guide you to unexpected insights. Lucky Advice: Trust your feelings over logic. Gemini Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Lovers The Lovers card appears for you today, Gemini, bringing emotional clarity. Letting go is never easy, but it's time to release old patterns or relationships that are not helping your growth. Be gentle with yourself. You deserve peace and a fresh start. A chance encounter may show you what freedom feels like. The more you let go, the lighter your path becomes. Let go of what no longer serves your highest good — it will open new doors. Lucky Advice: Release guilt, welcome peaceful beginnings. Cancer Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Chariot The Chariot drives your spirit today, Cancer, reminding you that even small acts of love have a big impact. A kind word, a small gesture, or simply being present can lift someone's heart. In this busy world, your soft nature is your true strength. Don't doubt the power of compassion — today, it brings rewards both emotional and spiritual. Spread kindness like petals in the wind. Small acts of kindness today create lasting ripples. Lucky Advice: Kindness returns when least expected. Leo Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: Strength The Strength card shines for you today, Leo, showing that your inner courage is more powerful than outside problems. Challenges may test your patience, but they also teach you wisdom and emotional balance. Instead of reacting with frustration, pause and respond with grace. Trust that every difficulty is shaping a better version of you. Trust that challenges bring valuable lessons — your spirit will grow stronger with each one. Lucky Advice: Face stress with calm and grace. Virgo Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Hermit The Hermit card gently guides your day, Virgo. It's a perfect time to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters. Avoid distractions and focus your energy where your heart feels at peace. Whether it's family, health, or your own growth, give attention to things that bring deep joy. You don't need to chase everything — just follow the light within. Today invites you to focus on what truly matters, and in silence, you'll find the answers. Lucky Advice: Simplify your day, find clarity. Libra Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: Justice Justice comes forward for you today, Libra, reminding you to stay balanced in thought and action. Be mindful of your choices, because what you give out will return. If your energy feels off, pause and reset. Kindness attracts kindness, while doubts can draw confusion. Be selective in your conversations and environment. Your energy attracts similar vibrations — so protect your peace and spread what you want to receive back. Stay true to your values with a calm heart. Lucky Advice: Match energy with positive intention. Scorpio Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: Death The Death card appears for you today, Scorpio, not as an end, but as a new beginning. You are being guided to speak up — let your truth come out, even if it shakes the room a bit. Use your voice gently but firmly. Hidden emotions are ready to be healed. Let go of fear and trust that honesty will clear old blocks. Speak your truth with kindness and confidence — it brings powerful change for your soul. Lucky Advice: Say what's true without fear. Sagittarius Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: Temperance Temperance guides your energy today, Sagittarius, reminding you that peace lies in balance. You may feel an urge to act quickly, but your spirit asks for quiet moments too. Let your day flow between doing and simply being. Reflect before you respond. This balance between action and rest will help you find clarity. Trust that everything is falling into place, even when it feels slow. Balance action with moments of rest and reflection — your journey needs both wings. Lucky Advice: Rest is strength, not weakness. Capricorn Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Devil The Devil card appears today, Capricorn, but not to trap you — it invites you to notice how far you've come. You may feel stuck in old habits or doubts, yet your growth is real and worth celebrating. Even small wins deserve joy. Be kind to yourself and recognise the strength it took to reach here. Don't let pressure steal your light. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small — it fuels bigger success. Lucky Advice: Honour effort, not just results. Aquarius Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Star The Star shines brightly for you today, Aquarius, lighting up your thoughts with hope and new views. A situation that once confused you may now appear differently with a fresh perspective. Look again — answers are hiding in plain sight. Don't be afraid to change your opinion or direction. Let inspiration guide you beyond your usual patterns. A fresh perspective may shift your understanding — trust the light within. Lucky Advice: See old problems with new eyes. Pisces Tarot Horoscope Today Today's Tarot Card: The Moon The Moon watches over you today, Pisces, bringing a gentle reminder to slow down and trust the timing of life. You may feel unclear or unsure, but don't rush. Your emotions are guiding you — listen carefully. Patience will help you make better choices. Let your dreams settle before you act. Let patience lead your decisions — everything will unfold when it's ready. Lucky Advice: Wait, clarity is on its way. Discover everything about astrology at Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces . Read your detailed Horoscope Today and Horoscope Tomorrow here.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Citizens take geotagging of Pune's green cover into their own hands
1 2 3 4 5 6 Pune: Critical data gaps have come to the fore in the official tree count done by authorities in the city. Now, a growing number of residents, conservationists and biodiversity experts have been galvanized to take mapping, monitoring and protecting existing green cover into their own hands. In the absence of a transparent and updated tree census, citizen-led geotagging initiatives are helping track species health, survival rates, and urban biodiversity across key hills, riverbanks, and forest patches in the city. On the hills You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune At the Chatushrungi, Taljai and ARAI hills, members of the Green Hills Group, like Gaurav Rathi, are geotagging newly planted saplings using a custom-built app TrackMyTree by CoReCo technologies that stores species name, planting date, GPS location, height, girth and even the caretaker assigned. "We've geotagged 700 trees on Chatushrungi hill already. Our aim is data-driven monitoring of plant growth rates, comparing species performance, and identifying which species thrive best in different terrains," Rathi told TOI. The scale of the initiative is growing steadily, with 50-80 volunteers participating each weekend. At Taljai hill alone, over 1,200 trees have been tagged, and at ARAI, another 700. The group's barcode-based system ensures that every sapling planted is linked to its caretaker and location, forming the foundation for a long-term citizen science project. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The need for such initiatives became glaringly evident in 2024, when over 150 residents around Taljai hill alleged that authorities had hacked trees without proper permission passes and adequate information. Protesters claimed that during the forest department drive to remove gliricidia trees on the tekdi, contractors also cut down indigenous trees. "There was no clear distinction being made. Native trees were cut indiscriminately," said Mandar Joshi, a resident of Sinhagad Road. An FIR was lodged, but the incident underscored a deeper concern: the absence of a public, up-to-date tree database. In response, Joshi and a few other residents of Sahakarnagar also began mapping what remained of the trees on the same hill. "We started with existing paths on the hill. We began taking photos, recording GPS coordinates and putting this all up on open-source data collection portal Epicollect. Our aim was to document the native species before they vanished," he said. Over time, they geotagged multiple trees and identified over 200 native species in the area — out of around 600-700 species found across Pune, although most remain undocumented. "These are not just trees, they form ecosystems. We saw pockets of pure native forest, untouched by non-native species. But even those are now at risk," said Joshi. Along the rivers At the same time, Pune River Revival (PRR) — a volunteer collective of citizens aiming to conserve the city's rivers — is meticulously documenting existing trees along the Mula river, including in biodiversity-rich areas like Pimple Nilakh and Vishalnagar. "Tree mapping activity initially started as a citizen engagement programme in Dec last year, where people were made aware about the natural heritage around them. These biodiverse green patches play a significant role in maintaining the city's delicate ecological balance. The activity evolved over time as we documented habitats, biodiversity and fauna along the riverbanks. Participants enjoyed being with nature and learned of the close connection between the health of rivers and our society," said Mrinal Vaidya, a PRR volunteer. For their task, PRR uses the ConnecTree tool developed by the Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) — a body established by the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Govt. of India — helping them in data collection and visualization. Supplementing the exercise is also the open data collection platform Epicollect. Participants enter tree details like species, girth, GPS location and leaf patterns, along with any other available data. The inputs are verified by PKC via experts from NGO Nisarg Sevak. New volunteers, often unfamiliar with tree taxonomy, are trained on how to take accurate measurements and input reliable data. PRR conducts tree mapping activities on weekends and covers an average of 200 trees in total on both days. Users said ConnecTree allows for mapping, tracking, and monitoring growth and health of tree saplings to enable a better survival rate. The system allows a collaborative approach between citizens, activist groups, corporates and local govt bodies to better manage tree plantations over their nurturing period. "The platform helps foster better citizen engagement and enables a collaborative approach, aimed at nurturing a sense of ownership and involvement in urban forestry initiatives among the public," said Shirish Kanitkar, in-charge of the environment and vertical sustainability department at PKC. "Tree mapping is more than just data entry," said Akanksha Pandey, another PRR volunteer, adding, "It's a way to know our city's rich and beautiful ecological biodiversity and how it affects us. It has helped increase awareness about the riparian zone in the heart of Pune. The temperature inside the dense canopy of trees during even peak summer heat in April remains many degrees lower than outside. This helps citizens understand the benefit of preserving such dense tree cover. " Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevitnadi, which has been working in the river conservation sphere for several years, agreed. She told TOI, "The root cause of launching this mapping activity was to make people understand that riparian zones are unique ecosystems, where only specific species grow in natural belts of the river. Unfortunately, these zones are not protected under policy. However, they are critically important as flowing freshwater ecosystems, irrespective of urban or rural areas. These precious habitats are key for sustenance as they act as buffers to control temperature, reduce flood risks, recharge groundwater, and filter pollutants." "At present, there is not much documentation available. So, our activity serves as a good citizen-driven science project for the benefit of Pune. More than 200 participants have joined so far and around 3.75km has been covered in five months," added Pandey. Participant Ajay Homkar, a software architect, shared, "Tree mapping has become a part of my weekend morning routine. It's a fantastic way to connect with rivers, trees, people and biodiversity. A lot needs to be done. We need many citizens to join efforts. This is just the beginning of a long journey towards restoration of biodiversity in urban areas and beyond." In concrete jungles While some residents are taking part in geotagging to ensure better data records, others are hoping to use the data to ensure that trees they plant are looked after and survive. For instance, residents of Balewadi took it upon themselves to ensure that the saplings planted along the main stretch of Baner-Balewadi road thrive. "We lost many avenue trees when Metro work commenced. At present, there is no shade to wait on several patches along the main road. This presents difficulties for bikers and pedestrians, especially during summer," said area resident Ameya Jagtap. "As residents of the area, not only do we find shade-less roads jarring, but the massive green cover loss because of Metro work is a major trigger. This summer, Balewadi experienced extreme temperatures. Trees are the only way to deal with it," he added. What ties all these groups together is a shared concern — lack of official data and transparency on green cover. Taljai tree-mapping participant Joshi also criticized deficient administrative efforts. "Why should citizens be building such databases? This is govt's job. There's no central database, no transparency. Websites have outdated information. Institutes that should be maintaining this knowledge don't make it public. We tried collaborating with them, but eventually, it was easier to do it ourselves. We will continue such efforts as responsible citizens to the best of our ability," he said. WHY IS GEOTAGGING IMPORTANT? Survival Updates: It is crucial to track the growth of saplings as it helps identify which species grows favourably in a terrain, and to ensure that they remain healthy Protection: Geotagging can help prevent damage to saplings or trees threatened by illegal felling, encroachment or development projects Urban Planning: Creating a data repository can help track the density of tree cover in urban areas, maintain a balance crucial to healthy living VOICES Citizens have limited trust in official agencies due to inaccessible or unreliable tree data and the delays in compiling it. This has prompted them to start their own geotagging initiatives, which is great. This growing citizen-science movement focuses on both new findings and documenting the existing biodiversity. Tree counting and species tracking plays a vital role in identifying, locating, and improving sapling quality, as well as in monitoring survival of planted trees — Sathya Natarajan | Author, 'Single Page Tree Act' Trees have so far been without identity. They have no Aadhaar card, voter ID, PAN card and thus, no agency. Without geotagging there is no address either. A tree is there today and gone tomorrow, and often, nobody is any wiser for it. So, geotagging and photographing trees are the only ways of keeping them in public memory and as a public asset. All govt agencies have failed in keeping tree records. Even census numbers are dubious. There is no other way than the ongoing citizen-led initiatives — Ameet Singh | Economist Tree mapping is an excellent exercise for the community and for the environment. Better knowledge about nature will help us care for it better. Citizens have this opportunity to learn local or scientific names of plants and understand the give-and-take relationship at the centre of a thriving ecosystem. Activities like these help us understand the importance of co-existence between primary producers and apex consumers. It is like an open, free and living learning laboratory — Arati Mhaskar | Core-member, Jeevitnadi The group I was part of for riparian zone tree mapping with PRR was sincere and enthusiastic. Mapping trees along the unique ecosystem of the Mula riverbank gave us a back-to-the-roots feeling. The participants diligently performed their tasks amid light pre-monsoon showers, irrespective of language, profession, gender and age. It was altogether an immense learning experience — Abira Ghosh | Scientific and medical writer
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Step By Step Into Neglect: These CP Escalators Are Taking You Nowhere
1 2 New Delhi: Multiple escalators meant for pedestrian safety and convenience at busy junctions in the Connaught Place area and its outer circle don't function, despite repeated complaints from shopkeepers and the public. Following criticism some time back, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) fixed some escalators from the 22 units installed across Connaught Place that link subways to major roads. However, a significant number of the escalators continue to be out of order because of broken components and missing parts due to thefts. This causes inconvenience to office-goers, and many prefer to use zebra crossings instead of the subways. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi During a visit to the outer circle, TOI found escalators not working in M Block at Barakhamba Road, at the intersection of Kasturba Gandhi Marg and the outer circle, opposite the Gopaldas building, among other places. At the M Block market, no sweeping seemed to have taken place as waste had collected next to the out-of-order escalators and pedestrians were avoiding using it. "These escalators aim to dissuade people from crossing the roads haphazardly and allow smooth movement of traffic on the road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo However, created by investing so much money, they are mostly non-operational," said Ritika Gupta, a pedestrian near M Block. The situation raises questions about maintenance and security upkeep of the NDMC, which claims to have installed hundreds of CCTV cameras and developed a control and command centre for the smooth management of its services. "These open or partly damaged escalators with no guards often become the hub for unwanted activities. Ideally, NDMC should have made arrangements or installed gates at the entrances of subways to keep these facilities safe at night. People, especially women commuters, avoid using them as they become deserted." NDMC officials stated that they do repair the units. "There are 22 escalators in the outer circle of Connaught Place, at five subways. At present, 13 are functional. While a comprehensive annual maintenance contract has been awarded to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) company, the replacement of damaged or stolen parts is not covered in the contract. The malfunctioning of the escalators is due to theft of parts or vandalism by miscreants. " Last year, the council also coordinated with the local police to check the theft of escalator items, carried out cleaning operations, and decided to depute security staff in three shifts for 75 days after the former NDMC vice chairman Satish Upadhyay made a visit to these sites. "To deal with the issue of theft of accessories, the civil engineering department has processed the case to cover all entrances and provide proper locking arrangements to avoid theft and damages," said the NDMC official. The officials added that these escalators were installed during 2010-11. As per the CPWD work manual, the prescribed life of escalators is 15 years, which is why the OEM firm has been directed to submit a detailed survey report of all the escalators as well. The council has also placed escalators in other locations across Lutyens' Delhi, apart from Connaught Place, and many times these are found non-operational too.
