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Environment

City to get tissue-culture lab for more green cover

Tuesday, 08 December 2009 11:12 administrator
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Indian Express 08.12.2009

City to get tissue-culture lab for more green cover

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to set up its first tissue culture laboratory to grow plants scientifically. According to the BMC’s tree census of 2008, while there are a total of 19, 17, 844 trees in the city 33, 202 trees of these are dead. Also, there is scope in terms of availability of space to plant an additional 2, 60, 466 trees.

“To quickly make trees available to fill up these spaces, we have identified an area close to Priyadarshini building junction in Chunabhatti where the lab will be set up within the next eight months, at a cost of Rs 5 crore,” deputy municipal commissioner Chandrashekhar Rokde said. Tissue culture is the method used to quickly produce mature plants under sterile conditions in the absence of seeds.

The lab will be air-conditioned where indoor plants as well small sized outdoor trees like Bogunvilla will be grown and bred. Recently, the BMC announced that it would buy 100 full grown trees from nurseries in Rajmundry in Andhra Pradesh and replant in the city to make it greener within a short span. In 2008, BMC had transplanted 41 full grown trees near Shivaji Park out of which four trees have already died.

“Buying trees from other states and transporting them all the way is an expensive process and their survival rate is also low. Once we have this lab, the process will become more economical as we will be able to grow at least small sized trees in Mumbai itself,” Rokde added.

The BMC wants to set up factories of trees where the plants, shrubs and small trees produced in the lab will be kept for further growth and sale to public. The trees will then be planted along play grounds, and other open spaces.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 December 2009 11:26
 

Greens slam BMC plan to buy big trees

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 11:33 administrator
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The Times of India 01.12.2009

Greens slam BMC plan to buy big trees

TNN 1 December 2009, 03:51am IST

MUMBAI: Reacting to the BMC’s decision to buy 100 big trees from Andhra Pradesh, environmentalists and citizens from across the city have written letters of dissent to civic officials.

Acting municipal commissioner R A Rajeev had said: “The young generation is restless and cannot wait too long for the trees to grow. They want everything instantly.’’

In his letter to Rajeev, environmentalist Rishi Aggarwal said, “People who love trees across any generation also enjoy the process of planting a sapling and then see it grow in front of their eyes. This holds true for tree lovers born a thousand years ago and for those who may be just 10 years old today.’’

Environmentalist Debi Goenka, in his letter to Rajeev, said, “Citizens would be willing to plant 10,000 or more trees with this money, in spaces identified by the BMC.’’

 

Crackdown on plastic bag wholesale markets to enforce ban

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 06:49 administrator
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Deccan Herald 25.11.2009

 
 
Crackdown on plastic bag wholesale markets to enforce ban
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI):


Stepping up its drive against use of hazardous plastic bags in the capital, Delhi government has asked the enforcing agencies to crack down on the owners of the shops selling the items within the market areas, including those in the walled city.

 

The officials have been asked to carry out intensive enforcement drive at the wholesale markets of plain plastic bags at Sadar Bazaar, Kharibowli and Khurshid Market.

"So far, the drive had been focussed on prosecuting the consumers of the plastic bags. But for effective implementation of the law there is a need to curb the source. Hence, now we have asked the enforcing agencies to keep an eye on the shops selling plastic bags in the market areas," a senior official said.

At a meeting held recently, Delhi Environment Secretary Dharmendra also stressed that the local bodies like MCD, NDMC, and the Sub Divisional Magistrates should implement the ban vigorously in their area.

Pulling up the agencies for poor implementation, the Secretary also categorically told them that the sale, storage and use of all kinds of plastic bags are prohibited in the notified places. "This is irrespective of the size labelled as more than 40 microns or even if it is bio-degradable," a senior official said.

As complaints were also received that Mother Dairy outlets spread across the city too were violating the law by selling vegetables and food items in such bags, the representatives of Food and Civil Supplies Department have been asked to ensure a complete ban there, the official said.

According to the notification issued by the state government in January, use, storage and sale of plastic bags of any kind or thickness, in all places where one gets the bags after shopping, are banned.

Anyone guilty of breaching the ban faces a maximum penalty of Rs 1 lakh or five years' imprisonment or both, says the Environment Protection Act.
So far, the government has registered cases against 50 people with one of them penalised by the court recently.

 
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