Thane: The civic body, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), has launched an initiative encouraging the use of cloth bags over plastic ones by collaborating with the Rotary Club of Thane to install two cloth bag vending machines at Gavdevi Market, Naupada.
These machines will dispense cloth bags for a nominal fee of Rs. 10 to reduce plastic usage. The inauguration event featured key attendees, including Manisha Pradhan, TMC's Chief Environment Officer, and Dinesh Mehta, District Governor of Rotary District 3124.
Pradhan announced plans for the Rotary Club to install more vending machines in other markets to further promote sustainable alternatives and minimize plastic waste. In addition, TMC organized an awareness lecture titled "Lakes of Thane," emphasizing the need for lake preservation.
The lecture was part of the "Thought Leadership Lecture Series," presented by Nutan Bandekar, an author and school principal under TMC. Bandekar addressed the responsibility of safeguarding Thane's lakes for future generations and highlighted that over 60 lakes have been recorded since the Shilahara period, with 42 still in existence today.
She discussed the signs of healthy and unhealthy lakes and their importance within the ecological food chain, urging citizens to monitor and care for these vital water bodies. The lecture coincided with Global Forest Day, Global Water Day, and Global Climate Day, reinforcing the importance of environmental awareness and action.
