INDIA. Mumbai: Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command (WNC), and Mrs Shashi Tripathi, President NWWA(WR), along with approximately 600 personnel and families from WNC, actively participated in clearing approximately 2,400 kg of plastic marine litter at Colaba point in South Mumbai on Monday.
The collected waste was gathered at the Navy Nagar office and subsequently handed over to the concerned authorities for proper disposal. The community, driven by a strong commitment to the environment, renewed their pledge to adopt a lifestyle that promotes long-term environmental-friendly habits.
In line with the ongoing green environment initiatives, Naval Dockyard Mumbai has adopted the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution.” With the active involvement of WNC Parivaar, a mass cleanup was undertaken in residential areas. Various plantation drives, lectures/seminars, and a painting competition were organized. A pledge-taking ceremony, aimed at fostering a greener, sustainable, and healthier environment, was conducted across all Naval stations.
As part of the Union Government’s #GreenIndia initiative, several naval stations within WNC have planted local flora saplings over the past year. The #PuneetSagarAbhiyan campaign involved mass coastal cleanup drives along the coasts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka on various occasions.
Collaborative efforts with local municipal bodies and NGOs, including awareness campaigns and cleanup drives, have resulted in the disposal of a substantial amount of plastic waste since March 2022, as stated in an official announcement.
Naval personnel at WNC have actively contributed to the restoration of various mangroves along the Mumbai coast and other stations. Community cleanups in the vicinity, workshops and seminars, awareness campaigns, coastal cleanup drives, and tree plantation initiatives have been undertaken by the command throughout the year.
Additionally, the implementation of sustainable policies and green initiatives such as promoting recycling, reducing plastic consumption, adopting renewable energy sources, in-house handling and recycling of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, and embracing energy-efficient and water-saving practices have been prioritized. Furthermore, a Miyawaki forest has been established at Naval Armament Depot in Trombay, Northeast Mumbai.
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