Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) launched a fortnight-long mega cleanliness drive tagged ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ from Sept 17 to Oct 2. The city has been categorised under the ‘Super Swachh League’ of the cleanest cities in the country, maintaining top three positions for several years due to the active contributions of sanitation workers and residents. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, NMMC carried out various cleanliness-related activities daily for 15 days. School children were especially engaged in a mega cleanliness drive to collect disposed plastics across the city, with over 50,000 students taking part.NMMC commissioner Kailas Shinde said, “Programs have been designed to instill a culture of cleanliness among students from an early age by involving schools and colleges on a priority basis. Activities will be extended to societies and NGOs on a large scale.”The campaign focused on key components such as cleaning neglected areas and public spaces, hosting Safaimitra safety camps, organising Swachh Hari Mahotsav, and promoting cleanliness through awards. Preliminary activities included one-act plays and Dindi competitions with over 1,500 student participants. The campaign was inaugurated with tree plantation and a cleanliness drive at Mini Sea Shore in Sector 10A.Representatives from various NGOs, persons with disabilities, and transgender citizens participated in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ tree plantation initiative. Project Mumbai led the initiative to make benches from plastic waste. A cleanliness drive in mangrove areas and religious sites, leveraging Navi Mumbai’s extensive coastline, was conducted. A cleanliness marathon has been listed. The backlane cleanliness campaign and cleaning of lakes and reservoirs, with special focus on reservoir areas, were included during the campaign. Mosquito fumigation campaigns were also part of the drive. Yoga and healthcare guidance camps for women sanitation workers, and post-monsoon redeployment at 92 3R (reduce, recycle, reuse) centres in the city were conducted.
