Panvel: The Panvel Municipal Corporation has announced a large-scale tree plantation campaign this year to improve the green cover across the city and promote ecological balance.

Additional commissioner Ganesh Shete emphasized the importance of transforming Panvel into a ‘Green Panvel’. Shete directed officials to carry out tree plantation in public spaces across municipal limits and suggested that trees be selected based on the local environmental conditions for better growth and survival.

Shete also proposed involving local housing societies in the drive, urging civic officials to seek the cooperation of the civic authorities in maintaining the planted trees. “If needed, societies should be encouraged to take ownership of nurturing the plants,” he said.

As a pilot project, tree plantations will begin at selected crematoriums or parks within the municipal limits. Based on the learnings from these locations, the tree plantation campaign will be scaled up in other parts of the city.