Blog - Page 30 of 51 - Local Press

“Save The Paws, One Collar at a Time”: Pawsibilities!

by Staff Reporter December 5, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Meet the volunteers of CreateTogether Foundation who have been tying reflective radium belts to the necks of street dogs in Navi Mumbai to protect them from accidents and also to given them an identity

Kharghar / Navi Mumbai: There are hundreds of thousands of street dogs in Navi Mumbai and all of them roam around on the roads and streets during the nights, exposing themselves and vehicle drivers, especially those on two wheelers, to many dangers. The reason? Well, they are difficult to be located in the darkness of the night. Well, not anymore!

Thanks to young and creative volunteers of CreateTogether Foundation, who have been campaigning to “Save Precious Paws, One Collar at a Time”, by tying radium belts to the necks of street dogs in Navi Mumbai. The reflective neck belts, they say, are saviours for both street dogs and motorists.

We discuss with Deepak Vishwakarma, founder of CreateTogether Foundation, about the entire campaign under “Pawsibilities”, another extension of the vibrant organisation.

Can you tell us a bit about “Pawsibilities” and the campaign for street dogs in Navi Mumbai?

“Our campaign “Pawsibilities” by the very meaning of the word, explains that we can all work towards the possibility of a better world for dogs, especially street dogs and animals in general. We mean to remind people that caring for street dogs, tending to their wounds, giving them a home and loving them is a possibility if we all find in ourselves, the humanity we so much boast of.”

“Through such, we thought of first carrying out simple tasks and the idea of tying reflective radium belts sprung up in everybody’s minds. We thought it best to add some level of security to the lives of street dogs and so we started the activity of “Save the Paws, One Collar at a Time” in Kharghar , Kalamboli and some other nodes” he adds.

“We mean to remind people through “Pawsibilities”, that caring for street dogs, tending to their wounds, loving them and giving them a home, is a possibility, if we all find in ourselves, the humanity we so much boast of.”
Createtogether foundation

What immediate threats do street dogs pose to themselves and motorists?

“A lot of times, street dogs get hit by oncoming vehicles as they are poorly visible during the nights, especially along the highways, which they cross in search of food. Many street dogs die in such manner every now and then.”

“It is a fact that there are many street dogs in Navi Mumbai and it is just not possible to keep them off the streets. Though most of them are wary of vehicles, some of them find themselves on the path of oncoming vehicles that fail to notice them. As a result accidents happen and sometimes they are dangerous,” he adds

“In most of the cases where a bike or car hits a street dog, the poor animal is rendered hurt, maimed or even killed. But there is always a great threat to the life of the motorist as well,” he concludes.

So, what is “Save Precious Paws, One Collar at a Time” all about?

“To keep it simple, we strive to minimise the threat of accidents of street dogs in Navi Mumbai, by tying one collar to one street dog at a time. Though it doesn’t literally mean that we take one dog at a time, but rather, it emphasises on the fact that we take every single dog as a unique personality and don’t intend to miss any. We believe that every collar tied is a dog saved on roads.”

“This is a very simple project that people can take up individually as the belts are cheap and easy to buy. Many people have already been doing it in many cities across India. We can all replicate such good ideas in our localities,” he adds.

How do the reflective radium belts help save street dogs?

“The radium belts, as the name tells, are coated with radium which glow in the dark. It is enough to warn motorists about street dogs on their paths. At least motorists who are not drunk, don’t run into dogs.”

“You see, it is not just about saving street dogs but also motorists who can run into dangerous accidents after hitting or trying to escape hitting dogs on their way,” he adds.

Is it easy tying belts around street dogs’ necks? How do you do that?

“To be frank, it is a little problematic at times. Anyone who has any kind of experience with street dogs, can tell that they take time to get familiar with you. It takes a different level of trust for them to allow you to tie something to their necks.”

“Sometimes, even friendly street dogs don’t appreciate a belt around their necks. They are not used to it as they are not bred to be like pet dogs who walk around comfortably in belts and dresses and what not. In some cases we have to feed them or pet them first for a long time, before they allow us to tie the belts,” he adds.

Do all your volunteers share the same love and enthusiasm for street dogs?

“In a broader sense, all of our volunteers love animals and strive to help them in every possible way. Some may be a little scared at times because of the lack of experience in dealing with street dogs, but eventually they learn to mingle.”

“Luckily we have among us some passionate dog lovers who go out of the box to help street dogs in every possible manner. We have a volunteer called Jyoti Dubey who works diligently and passionately for the cause of street dogs as she loves them a lot. Then there is another called Pravin Yadav who shares the same enthusiasm like Jyoti,” he adds.

“Two of the volunteers, Bipin Rawat and Abhay Pillai, had even been treating injured dogs on their own expenses, before they had met us. Another passionate girl called Mayanka Choukkar, is up in arms when somebody hurts or intends to hurt a street dog. Like these, we have a lot of other volunteers who contribute in their own unique ways and we are lucky to have them with us,” he concludes.

How many street dogs in Navi Mumbai have you tagged with radium belts so far?

“Well, we had covered the Kalamboli and Kharghar nodes, along with Belapur, Seawoods and Sanpada, and tied belts on the necks of more than 55 street dogs so far. It was out first such activity and we intend to increase the frequency of the drive and reach out to as many street dogs in Navi Mumbai various other nodes in the coming months.”

“We have one such drive coming up this month and we intend to cover more ground,” he adds.

How do you procure the radium belts? Are they sponsored?

“We had bought the radium belts from an organisation in Mulund, at the cost of Rs. 25/belt. Most of the money was collected through crowdfunding through our social media pages. A lot of dog lovers and well-wishers had contributed generously. It is owing to the help of all such people that we were able to carry out the activity.”

“We will continue the campaign in the same manner with the help of willing and generous contributors who can help take the campaign further, in every possible manner,” he adds.

How do you plan to tie radium belts to all street dogs in Navi Mumbai?

“We will be increasing the frequency of our activities and visiting many other areas in several other nodes having a dense population of street dogs. But to be frank, it is not a one man’s job or even that of a single group of people. Every person counts who joins in, counts.”

“So, we will be getting in touch with dog lovers and local residents, and even societies, to tie such bands on community street dogs. We have already done that during our last activity, and many willing dog lovers had participated in their own capacities,” he adds.

“We aim to cover maximum street dogs in the city with the help of local residents of Navi Mumbai,” he concludes.

How frequently do you carry out the activity of tying radium belts?

“We are still new to this and for now, have planned to conduct the activity at least twice a month. During the last activity, that was held on 14 November, on Diwali, we had a good experience on how to go about with the activity in a planned manner. So, our next activity, which is scheduled to take place on 13 December, 2020, we will be going about in a systematic manner.”

To get information on future dates of radium belt activities under “Save the Paws, One Collar at a Time” in your nodes, call 8898477016

What does “Pawsibilities” cover, apart from tying radium belts to street dogs?

“We are connected with some local animal lovers and concerned citizens, who inform us about injured street dogs and we take them to vets to ensure that they receive proper treatment. A lot more can be done for injured and ailing street dogs and hence we are trying our best to connect with more and more local dog lovers, concerned citizens and vets.”

“We also hope that the administration practically starts working on the veterinary hospital in Kalamboli that was promised years ago. That would help a lot,” he adds.

Any message for the citizens of Navi Mumbai?

“The message is short and simple – Whatever you think that you want to do for the sake of animals in the city, no matter how hard it may seem – It is Pawsible!”

Also read: Meet Navi Mumbai’s Sunday Eco Warriors Cleaning City Mountains and Ponds

For our readers:

You can help volunteers of CreateTogether Foundation to reach out to more and more street dogs in Navi Mumbai by sending your monetary donations to:

Bank Name: Union Bank of India
Account Name: CreateTogether Foundation
Account Number: A/C No: 482001010111556
IFSC Code: UBIN0548201
UPI Payment: Google Pay – Paytm – Phonpe: 8898477016

Or you can learn more about the CreateTogether Foundation before lending a helping hand by visiting the following links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreateTogetherFoundation/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createtogetherfoundation

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CreateTogetherFoundation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreateTogetherF

December 5, 2020 0 comments

Navi Mumbai needs dog parks: City pet dog parents urge

by Staff Reporter December 3, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

With the number of pets increasing every month, Navi Mumbai pet dog parents demand dog parks in prime nodes of the city, more than ever, now that one is coming up in Vashi.

Navi Mumbai: Pet parents in the city are very excited to have got their first ever “Pet Corner” and the news that the Vashi Dog Park is just about complete and could be thrown open in the month of January 2022. While the pet corner is well received by all, every pet parent is eagerly waiting for the dog park to open and are hopeful that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will not disappoint them .

Well, the concept of a dog park may sound ridiculous to many but the fact is that Navi Mumbai needs a couple of dog parks more than ever before.

Why? Well, the growing population of pet dogs in Navi Mumbai and the lack of personal space for dog walking or play, calls for an immediate provision of parks or separate zones dedicated to dogs.

To be frank, dog parks are the best bets as everybody needs some space, including dogs!

The population of pet dogs in Navi Mumbai is growing

Keeping aside statistics, there has been a constant growth in the population of pet dogs in Navi Mumbai. The rampant growth in pet food shops is proof enough to support such fact.

Surprisingly, the growing population of pet dogs is not limited to high rise buildings and posh localities alone. Almost every dog lover, irrespective of his or her social status, has taken in a pet dog wherever possible. As a result, the number of pet dogs has been scaling up every month.

Additionally, it is not just dogs of quality breed that become pets, but also street dogs, who are being added to the pet population in Navi Mumbai. So you see, there are a lot of pets in city homes at the moment.

Kapil Malhotra, founder of The Bark Treat, a holistic pet shop at Seawoods, shares, “In the last couple of years there has been a tremendous growth in the number of pet parents in Navi Mumbai. You can find a pet shop in every nook and corner of the city and they are all doing good business. I keep getting calls from people who want to buy or adopt pet dogs all the time. There are more pet dogs in Navi Mumbai than we know.”

“Due to lack of space, especially pet friendly space, there are many pet parents who take their pet dogs to isolated spots like I do, to give their pets some freedom and required exercise. Sadly, the lack of dog friendly spaces in Navi Mumbai is also one of the reasons that many pet parents avoiding taking their pets out often. Nobody likes inspecting glaring eyes and shrugging heads,” he adds.

“Sadly, the lack of dog friendly spaces in Navi Mumbai is also one of the reasons that many pet parents avoiding taking their pets out often. Nobody likes inspecting glaring eyes and shrugging heads.”
– Kapil Malhotra, Founder, www.TheBarkTreat.in

Also read: Kharghar pet dog owners making best use of the monsoons at isolated spots

So many pet dogs and so little walking space or play areas (for dogs) in Navi Mumbai

It is a known fact the pet parents in Navi Mumbai struggle to take their pet dogs out for regular walks or play for several reasons, one being lack of dedicated space to walk them around.

The fact is, that not all pet dog parents in Navi Mumbai live in dog-loving societies with ample space to walk their dogs, or convenient open spaces around to take their pet dogs out for a walk.

Taking dogs along for morning walks and jogs on dedicated jogging tracks in Navi Mumbai is a problem in itself as people generally don’t like their space to be shared with dogs for various reasons.

And the idea of taking your pet dog to a park in Navi Mumbai is completely out of question. No pets are allowed in parks in our city.

So you see, the city of Navi Mumbai has so many pet dogs but not enough space for them to walk around or play freely.

Also read: NMMC may build 10 “Pet Corners” or “Legal Dog Pooping Stations”; Inaugurates first one in Vashi

Dog parks are a must for Navi Mumbai’s pet dogs

Well, Navi Mumbai, the City of the Twenty First Century, strives to take strides never taken before by others and do things differently. So, why lag behind at developing dog parks?

The growing population of pet dogs, the extreme lack of space (for dogs), unruly people and dog haters or animal haters in general, are reason enough for the city of Navi Mumbai to develop dedicated dog parks in prime nodes.

Officially, Navi Mumbai doesn’t have dedicated dog parks, whether off-leash or fenced, or even dog friendly parks or spaces. Pet dog parents simply make walk their dogs in nearby streets or spots with lesser number of street dogs and people who object to people walking their dogs around.

It is not a demand of luxury but the need of the hour. The administration should understand that there is dearth of dog-friendly spaces in the city. Every now and then we get to hear about skirmishes between dog lovers and dog haters or acts of violence against street dogs. (We will get back to the pitiful situation of street dogs in another article.).

In such a scenario a dog park is the best option for the well-being of pet dogs and pet parents alike.

Also read: Vashi Dog Park likely to open in January 2022, after completion of pending work

Barsha Mitra, a gifted Animal Communicator and founder of “Jalesmina”, a Telepathic Animal Communication organisation, shares, “A dog park in Navi Mumbai will be a thrilling concept for pet dog parents in the city. Not only will it allow city pet dogs the opportunity to socialize with other pet dogs but also to grow physically and psychologically. Dogs are social and very energetic animals and park that will allow them to walk, exercise or run around freely in the company of other dogs will help boost their morale. Staying home all the time and going out for a 5 minute walk only for relieving themselves does no good to them.”

*Barshsa Mitra, Founder of Jalesmina.com has been effectively communicating with animals since years and stresses on the need of dog parks in Navi Mumbai.*

“Also, many pet dog parents feel guilty about having to leave their pet children home while they go to a park or other such place to walk. Having a dog park in Navi Mumbai will allow a majority of such pet parents to share some special time with their pet dogs outside their homes too. To be frank, a dog park in Navi Mumbai will allow pet parents to share quality moments with their best friends even outside the four walls of their homes ,” she adds.

“To be frank, a dog park in Navi Mumbai will allow pet parents to share quality moments with their best friends even outside the four walls of their homes.”
– Barsha Mitra, Founder, www. Jalesmina.com

How will dog parks help pet dogs in Navi Mumbai in the first place?

*Even sitting calmly in nature’s lap can do wonders for a dog’s mind (Photo: Harpal Naol)*

To keep it precise and simple, pet dogs, or dogs in general, need to walk, run and play freely every day, or at least on alternate days. Dogs need to unwind just like humans do. Even sitting calmly in the grass can do wonnders for their minds.

In Navi Mumbai, there is no limit of open spaces for people but when it comes to dogs, there are restrictions for reasons we all know.

If we get a few dog parks in some of the nodes of Navi Mumbai with major population of pet dogs, then it will prove beneficial in many ways for the dogs at least.

Also read: Vashi Dog Park likely to open in January 2022, after completion of pending work

Firstly, dogs will get a personal space where they won’t have to care about any “human” walking around cursing or glaring at them.

Secondly, they will be able to flex their muscles and indulge in physical activities as well as unhindered sniffing routines to stimulate their minds.

Lastly, all the unhindered activity that dogs will be able to indulge in will help maintain their overall mental and physical health.

We need dog parks and other such only places because there are people who still can’t adjust to being around pet animals, and some pet owners who still haven’t learnt to act responsibly. It is a mixture of such people who are the reason for the growing hatred against pets and animals in general. To add to the troubles, there are those who are simply born or brought up savage, they hardly care about fellow beings, let alone caring for animals!
– Kapil Malhotra, Founder, www.TheBarkTreat.in

Also read: Work on Vashi dog park, Navi Mumbai’s first such park, commences

So what kind of dog parks does Navi Mumbai need?

Well, ideally we need “Off-leash dog parks in Navi Mumbai” where dogs can simply run around without any hindrance. However, there has to be a certain amount of discretion on the pet parents’ part – they need to be very forthcoming about whether or not their dogs need to be on a leash. Letting untrained dogs loose in a park full of dogs can lead to many serious incidents.

Alternatively, there can be dog parks that switch from off-leash to on-leash mode on alternate days to accommodate all types of pet dogs.

Facilities needed at dog parks in Navi Mumbai (whenever they develop them)

Talking about facilities that would be required at dog parks in Navi Mumbai, once developed, there are a couple of things that are most essential.

Following is a list of essential facilities needed at dog parks in Navi Mumbai:

Dog training and exercise equipment
Off-leash and On-leash lawns or sections
One large or more preferably two small splash pools
A spacious amphitheatre for pet events
Water dispensers and bowls
Vending machines or counters for poop bags
Separate sections for big and small dogs
Access to a 24×7 local vet
An expert dog trainer

Best locations for dog parks in Navi Mumbai

The best locations for developing dog parks in Navi Mumbai would be Vashi, Nerul –Seawoods and Kharghar as they seem to have a huge concentration of pet shops, indicating the possibility of a high number of pet dogs or pets in general.

Advocate Shelly Pandya, a resident of Kharghar, says, “The NMMC should try to develop at least one dog park, no matter how small or with lest equipment and facilities. It would help a lot of pet parents in Navi Mumbai. At least in Kharghar, there are a lot of open and unused plots that pet parents use for walking their dogs or letting them play off the leash for some time. This is not possible in many other nodes that don’t have such open spaces.”

“Navi Mumbai needs dog parks but before that it needs a veterinary hospital, one that the administration has been promising since years,” she adds.

“Navi Mumbai needs dog parks but before that, it needs a veterinary hospital, one that the administration has been promising since years.”
– Advocate Shelly Pandya

Also read: Vashi residents thrilled by NMMC’s pet corner; wish for many more

An alternative to developing dog parks in Navi Mumbai from scratch

There is an alternative to developing a dog park from scratch in Navi Mumbai and saving money if the budget doesn’t allow.

How? Well, there are lot of open and green spaces in almost all nodes of Navi Mumbai. These spots whether or not market for any project, lie unused and unattended. These can be used for dog walk and play activities.

The idea is to zero in on one such spot or multiple spots in individual nodes and turn them into official dog parks or zones.

If nothing else then only a strong and sturdy fence and basic facilities like water and loo would suffice.

The priority here is to provide dedicated spots for dog walking or play and even one with bare minimum facilities would suffice. The need is for privacy and liberty (away from ever glaring eyes and cursing tongues).

Some possible disadvantages or cons of having a dog park

Well, off-leash dog parks can have some disadvantages or cons too as follows:

Potential of danger from aggressive dogs for both humans and dogs
Passing on of ticks and other diseases from one dog to another
Over-excited dogs getting out of control and getting into inappropriate acts
An increased level of noise pollution owing to incessant barking of dogs
Not ideal for hosting big and small dogs at the same time
Possibility of damage to plants in the park
Possibility of getting dogs hurt owing to unsafe equipment in the park
Increased cleaning/sanitation work for caretakers of such parks
Possible increase in the maintenance cost of the park
Possibility of skirmishes between dog owners
Complaints from neighboring societies about inconvenient barking noise

These are some of the major disadvantages or cons that a dog park can have. However, with correct planning and strict rules, it can be a fruitful effort.

Strict pointers or rules to be followed by pet dog parents in dog parks

If ever, Navi Mumbai gets a dog park then it would be very important for pet parents to play their part responsibly and look after their dogs in the park

Following rules should have to be followed in Navi Mumbai Dog Parks (once developed)

Don’t bring aggressive pet dogs to the dog park
Always keep our dog on a leash if he/she tends to get excited and carried away
Maintain safe distance from other aggressive or unwelcoming dogs
Don’t let your pet dogs chew on or uproot plants in the dog park
Ensure that your pet dog is not suffering from ticks or any other infectious disease
Always pick your pet dog’s poop as a responsible pet parent
Make sure that your pet dog doesn’t indulge in inappropriate behaviour
Never leave your dog unattended for any reason
Avoid going to the park if your pet dog barks incessantly without reason

As a responsible pet dog parent always keep these points in mind before venturing out to a dog park or in the local area.

NMMC’s delayed plans to develop a dog park in Navi Mumbai

Surprisingly, in February 2019, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), had announced their decision to develop a dog park in Vashi, based on a proposal moved by a local corporator.

The said dog park was meant to be Navi Mumbai’s first such park to be developed within the Veer Savarkar municipal garden at sector 8 in Vashi. The park, exclusively meant for dogs, was to cover 870 sq m of the existing garden, and would have cost Rs. 29.4 lakh.

The best part of the dog park was the plan to install dog friendly play equipment like low-level see-saws, steps and slopes, among other things.

The park was set to be completed and let open for Navi Mumbai’s pet dogs in the month of April, 2019. However, the plan never took off for reasons unknown.

In a similar fashion, another such park proposed to be developed in Nerul could also not get materialized.

So, plans of developing a dog park in Navi Mumbai has never taken off for various reasons in the past and now, owing to the pandemic, every such project may take more time than ever.

P.S. We did not take any official quote from NMMC for dog parks in Navi Mumbai. However, we will be discussing with them after publishing this article.

Our (LocalPress.in) Opinion
Well, there is a lot that can be done for pet dogs as well as street dogs if the administration diligently pursues and executes plans that are rotting on paper. If Navi Mumbai citizens recollect, the city is still waiting for the “Animal Hospital” promised years ago. Where is that?
It is understood that if an important things like an animal hospital can be sidelined for whatsoever reason, then a “luxury provision” like a “dog park” stands no chance.
We just hope that the administration will start priortising and find reasons to do things rather than giving explanations about why they can’t do them.
To be frank, there is no space crunch in Navi Mumbai so developing things like dog parks, skating rinks, cycling tracks and other such things would do much good to the city than developing unused or undesired golf courses.

December 3, 2020 0 comments

Meet the Young Sunday Eco Warriors Cleaning Our Mountains and Ponds

Featured Kharghar News

Meet Navi Mumbai’s Sunday Eco Warriors Cleaning City Mountains and Ponds

by Staff Reporter November 29, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Aged between 18 and 27, these young boys and girls, students and corporate workers alike, spend their Sundays cleaning mountains and ponds in Navi Mumbai

Meet Navi Mumbai's Sunday Eco Warriors Cleaning City Mountains and Ponds — *A team of volunteers of CreateTogether Foundation with bags of trash collected from the pond near Taloja Jail, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai (Photo LocalPress.in)*

Navi Mumbai: They are young, have other jobs to do and only get Sundays as weekly offs from their schooling or demanding corporate jobs. But that doesn’t stop them from getting out of bed early in the morning, mobilising their teams and doing what they think is their responsibility – cleaning the mountains and ponds of Navi Mumbai!

Yes, and they do it when most of the residents are fast asleep and unaware that somebody else is cleaning their neighbourhood (of their filth!).

The fact is, that city mountains and ponds are in “a terrible state”, whether we accept it or not and very few people are concerned or putting in efforts to do something productive about it apart from holding the local administration responsible.

Yes, the local administration is responsible, but what about our responsibility?

The answer to that question is tricky, right? Why should we do something that the authorities and sweepers are getting paid to do, right?

It is their job, isn’t it?

Well, a mind-set like that creates dirty and filthy localities and neighbourhoods!

Thankfully, we have individuals and organisations like CreateTogether Foundation, who know better, and are aware of the fact that pointing fingers doesn’t get the job done – doing the job does it, and for good!

We share a tête-à-tête with the founder, Deepak Vishwakarma of CreateTogether Foundation (and the rest of the team too).

So how, or rather why, did you think of forming an organisation?

“Well, that’s a long story but to keep it short for now we would say that we like to go on trekking and natire walks a lot and during most of our outings we would find a lot of garbage in the mountains and hills. It was the same with the water bodies, like ponds, dams and rivers too. A strange yet known fact is that many people venture out to find peace in nature but in return to the calmness they get, they simply throw their trash around.”

“They litter like animals do at dustbins – throwing around plastic water bottles and food packets like scavengers. Some even find joy in breaking beer bottles. How idiotic is that?”

So, we thought of keeping it simple and decided to include cleaning these places in our trekking schedules. In that way, it wouldn’t have asked for an extra effort and we would be happy to have done our part towards nature. So, we started collecting such filth and more and more trekkers and nature lovers started joining us and here we are with a formal organisation.”

“It may be somebody else’s waste but it is our neighbourhood, city and country. We need to strive for them on a personal level. Complaining bears no fruits, only contempt.”
– Deepak Vishwakarma, Founder, CreateTogether Foundation

How responsible do you think the people are in local communities?

“Well, it is very sad to see people visiting mountains, hills and other natural habitats and clicking selfies for social media platforms but at the same time creating a chain of filth wherever they go.”

“Some of them even go to lengths to take photos of the filth and start pointing fingers on others. People have a general tendency of leaving behind their trash for the sweepers as they are the ones who are responsible for maintaining cleanliness in local areas.”

“The general thinking of people that it is not their job, and that somebody else who is assigned the job, will clean after them, is the reason for such a situation.”

“Look around, we, as a people, are simply creating filth wherever we go, be they hill stations, tourist destinations, pilgrimages or other place where people converge. All such places have to bear with the irresponsibility of well-educated yet low-minded individuals.”

How responsible is the administration to maintain cleanliness of mountains and ponds and other such places?

“Like I said earlier, the administration will do their part in their capacity but it is first the responsibility of the people who are generating the filth. If we don’t create filth unnecessarily, there will be less to clean up and the time and resources will then be spent on doing other productive things.”

“The administration should however, be strict about eco-offenses as their lethargy and unwillingness to penalise such people, has been encouraging them to do more damage. It is because of the lacking of a vigilant monitoring system and process, that people exploit such freedom.”

“It is not the responsibility of the civic authority alone but also of every individual, to ensure that they don’t create filthy neighbourhoods in the first place.”
– Saurabh Singh, Joint Director, CreateTogether Foundation

There are many other organisations doing the same thing as you do, so how do you differ from them?

“Well, that is the thing! We are not different from anyone and that is what we want everybody to know – we are all one and the same and carry the same responsibilities upon our shoulders. It is our neighbourhood and we need to strive for it in very possible way.”

“In that way, and many others, we are the same.”

Can you tell us a little more about CreateTogether Foundation?

“Well, CreateTogether Foundation is a registered organisation based out of Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai, with more than 300 volunteers and participants from all across the city and even Mumbai. We are dedicated to the humble cause of cleaning up our city’s mountains, hills and surrounding natural habitats like ponds and rivers.”

“Apart from that, we do have different programmes to serve the society in every possible manner through causes dedicated to women, animals, children, education, health and general awareness of the people.”

What kind of work have you been doing lately?

“Since more than two months (11 weeks) we have been busy with our Mountain Clean-up Drives going on in Kharghar, Taloja and Kalamboli. It has been a great success as around 15-20 volunteers show up every day to contribute.”

“You will be surprised to know that till date, we have been able to collect more than 1.5 metric ton of waste from various hills in Mumbai and nearby places. Apart from picking up the trash, we also segregate, recycle and manage it responsibly.”

What other things do you do or plan to do part from clean-up drives?

“Apart from clean-up drives, we also conduct awareness programmes for citizens, especially children, as they are the ones who can be moulded into a responsible future generation. We try to make people aware about the many harmful effects of their behaviour on the environment and wildlife.”

“The focus is on working out feasible solutions for waste-related problems like availability of clean water, health and sanitation problems.”

“Our pledge is to make every individual, that we come across, own up to his or her responsibility towards the environment and contribute in practical ways rather that crib about the failure of the administration to tackle such issues. It is everybody’s problem and all have to work together.”

Can you sum up the objectives of CreateTogether Foundation in short?

“Well, we do have pointers for that as follows:

Provide and promote sustainable waste management systems in Mumbai and places nearby.
Provide environmental education and recycling programs in schools and communities.
Improve and maintain public spaces.
Educate and raise environmental awareness.
Promote, sell and use environmentally friendly and recycled products.
Provide voluntary, employment and training opportunities.

Our Long Term Aims are as follows:

To run national campaigns throughout India.
To set up waste management systems across India.

So, these are our short and long term goal.”

How does CreateTogether Foundation bear the clean-up expenses? Are your activities sponsored?

“To be frank, our “Mountain Clean-up Campaign” is running entirely on our own funds. We do look out for like-minded sponsors to push the campaign forward more effectively as the organisation is growing every month and more and more people keep joining every month. There is need to procure adequate necessary tools to expand our outreach. We somehow manage with whatever funds we are able to arrange collectively.”

“While we have receieved some contributions from like-minded people for some of our other activities, we do need funds to procure tools to expand our clean-up drives to more locations and hence invite willing sponsors to contribute in any manner possible.”

What is the message that you want to pass on to the people?

“The message is very simple – Do your part in keeping our environment clean by not throw trash around. It is very simple and will not take extra efforts.”

“For those who simply keep complaining about the kind of filth in their respective neighbourhoods without doing anything at all – Stop complaining and start doing something!!”

An affirming message from the entire team of CreateTogether Foundation

“We are a family of kind sapiens on a mission to let our environment live its life with peace! We will never stop for any reason whatsoever, and always keep on cleaning and clearing every kind of waste from the paths of our environment, towards a peaceful living.”

Mountains are Earth’s undecaying monuments!
Don’t let them decay!
Clean up and Let them Live
– CreateTogether Foundation

For our readers:

CreateTogether Foundation also organises special activities, clean-ups and events in the community and schools to celebrate important occasions such as World Environment Day, Earth Day etc.

The organisation has undertaken several art projects to improve unsightly areas and to convey a “Clean and Green” message while raising awareness about the importance of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”.

Identifying proper education as the key to a better world, the organisation has also been conducting painting competitions for children. The objective has always been to educate and sensitise children about the urgent need to safeguard the environment.

To learn more about the kind of work CreateTogether Foundation does on a regular basis, refer to the following links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreateTogetherFoundation/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createtogetherfoundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CreateTogetherFoundation
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CreateTogetherF

To make donations in favour of CreateTogether Foundation:

To contribute in any way and every way possible by helping equip these eco warriors to carry out their work effectively you can donate through:

Bank Name: Union Bank of India
Account Name: CreateTogether Foundation
Account Number: A/C No: 482001010111556
IFSC Code: UBIN0548201
UPI Payment: Google Pay – Paytm – Phonpe: 8898477016

November 29, 2020 1 comment

Featured News

Next stop: NMMC’s Upcycled Art Toilet Bus

by Staff Reporter November 28, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

NMMT transforms two defunct and scrap buses into portable unisex toilets, with art written all over them

Navi Mumbai / CBD-Belapur: Well, thanks to the NMMC, citizens of Navi Mumbai will now be able to relieve themselves while admiring “Art”! Yes, you heard it right! Two defunct NMMT buses have been transformed into, what they have been calling, “Upcycled Art Toilet Buses”! What more, the buses are unisex, so men and women, both are invited!

The NMMT is getting creative in their quest to outdo other corporations in the country in the Swachh Survekshan, 2021, and they might be doing it already.

Let us remind our readers that Navi Mumbai happens to be the only city in the state of Maharashtra to have been awarded a five-star rating for being a garbage-free city and a double plus rating for being an Open Defecation Free (ODF) city. So that is some inspiration for winning more in accolades future contests.

Ever since the commencement of the Swachh Survekshan contests, the NMMC has taken keen interest on the adoption and implementation of the three ‘R’s’ concept – ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. Through such, they have been focusing on ‘sustainability from waste’, transforming waste materials into art pieces and beautiful structures of marvel.

In the past, the NMMC had been praised for creating some eye-catching art installations made completely out of waste materials, one being the “Mother India Board”, an artwork created out of scrap computer chips and components, a FIFA installation made out of bottle caps, and the “Mahatma Gandhi Chasma and Charkha” murals made of upcycled waste cycle, discarded wood, old newspapers etc.

Taking inspiration from their own feats, the NMMC has taken keen interest in the provision of toilets to people who throng public places and markets that don’t have toilets. In doing so, it wishes to keep such places clean.

For such, the NMMC zeroed in on two defunct NMMT buses that were to be scraped off. The buses, though not fit for transporting commuters, looked promising as portable toilets. However, they had to be eye-catching and inspiring. So the corporation had to bring in the “art factor”, and the results have been astonishing.

NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar is all praises for the entire team that envisioned and accomplished the task of converting scrap-worthy buses into something so useful to the people, especially women, who find themselves in embarrassing situations when toilets are not around in crowded places in the city.

At the same time Bangar is astonished by the kind of artwork carried out by the company that converted the bus and the art team that made it into nothing less than a piece of art.

It is owing to the broad visions of the NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, that such projects are fast becoming the norms for NMMC and the city of Navi Mumbai.

Jaspal Singh Naol, Co-founder, Globalgreen Innovators Pvt. Ltd., whose organisation took care of the artistic part of the project, shares, “The NMMC is innovative and open to experimenting. They have always given us a free hand to come up and implement ideas that stand out for their uniqueness and the social messages that they send across.”

“The idea of a portable toilet moving around in an appeasing manner, worked well with the kind of work done on the buses used for the purpose. Through the artistic touch, the NMMC has also changed the aesthetics of how portable toilets generally tend to look – worn down and with putting-off appearances, to that of a five-star water closets providing a different level of visual and mental comfort,” he adds.

“Through the artistic touch, the NMMC has also changed the aesthetics of how portable toilets generally tend to look – worn down and putting-off appearances, to that of five-star water closets providing a different level of visual and mental comfort.”
– Jaspal Singh Naol, Co-founder, Globalgreen Innovators Pvt. Ltd.

The impeccable work of transforming the NMMT buses into beautiful and fully optimized toilets was carried out by Kalyani Cleantech Pvt Ltd., an associate company of M / s. Sara Plast Pvt. Ltd., that took it up as an interesting and progressive initiative to give something to the local community.

Saurabh Kanade, the General Manager of Kalyani Cleantech Pvt Ltd., shares enthusiastically, “We simply loved NMMC’s concept of turning a bus into a fully functional toilet and that too with an artistic touch. There was a lot to be done within the small space available inside the bus and I think we did pretty well.”

“I am glad that the NMMC trusted us with the job because it was more than a regular job – The Upcycled Art Toilet Bus was meant to be a gift for the local community by the NMMC and had to be special. We tried to make it as special as possible,” he adds.

“The Upcycled Art Toilet Bus was meant to be a gift for the local community by the NMMC and had to be special. We tried to make it as special as possible.”
– Saurabh Kanade, General Manager, Kalyani Cleantech Pvt Ltd.

NMMC’s Upcycled Art Toilet Bus(es) – Description, Details and Purpose

NMMC has converted two discarded NMMT buses into fully functional portable toilets or as they call it “Upcycled Art Toilet Bus(es)”.

There are 5 toilets in all in each bus – three for women that can be accessed through the front and two for men that can be accessed from the rear. There are also separate urinals in the men’s section. The bus also has wash basins in both the sections, male and female. There is water tank atop the bus for water provision.

The purpose of NMMC’s Upcycled Art Toilet Bus(es) is to provide a portable toilet in crowded areas of Navi Mumbai, especially market areas, that lack public toilets. It will come as a boon for women who frequent the markets and suddenly feel the need to visit a toilet.

The NMMC’s’ Art Toilet Bus(es) are ready to use and have been doing the rounds since yesterday.

Dignitaries present at the inaugural of the NMMC’s Upcycled Art Toilet Bus

The NMMC’s Upcycled Art Toilet Bus service was inaugurated by the Additional Commissioner of NMMC Sanjay Kakade in the presence of Deputy Commissioner of Administration Dadasaheb Chabukswar, Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management Dr. Babasaheb Rajale, Deputy Commissioner of Social Development Kranti Patil, Deputy Chief Sanitation Officer Pralhad Khose and Deputy Engineer Vasant Padghan.

The General Manager of Kalyani Cleantech Pvt Ltd., Saurabh Kanade, was also present along with Meenal Dongre, the company’s accountant.

Last but not the least, there were the co-founders of Globalgreen Innovators Pvt Ltd. that handled the art part, Jaspal Singh Naol, Binoy K and Nikhil M along with artists like Sankalp Patil, Sudhir Shedge and Vaibhav Ghag from the group “Skulp”.

November 28, 2020 0 comments

Featured Kharghar News

Taloja pollution is back: Pungent smell fills up the air again

by Staff Reporter November 25, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Hardly a month after the MPCP is said to have taken action against 8 polluting companies in Taloja, ordering 4 to shut down, and issuing notices to the remaining ones, the pollution in Kharghar from Taloja is back.

Kharghar / Taloja / Navi Mumbai / PMC: Residents were just about getting used to the low amount of pollution in Kharghar and Taloja, after the supposedly prompt action taken by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) against companies in Taloja MIDC that had been found polluting the area, that the pollution has made a reappearance.

Through the said intervention by the MPCB, which was the result of the continuous pursuit of harried residents and local organisations, who had gone an extra mile, carrying out a stint during the wee hours to catch the companies in action, eight companies were caught hold of and reprimanded. Also, four of them were said to have been told to wrap up.

Also read: Kharghar and Taloja Pollution: Residents get temporary relief from pollution after MPCB intervention

Also read: Taloja Pollution: MPCB orders 4 polluting Taloja companies to shut down, issues notices to 4 others

Also read: Kharghar and Taloja battle with pollution again, thanks to Taloja industries

Residents had been hopeful that they had dealt with the issue for good as there had been minimal pollution in Kharghar and Taloja ever since the said intervention of MPCB. However, the pollution in Taloja is back and even more frequently than before.

Arun Jadhav, a resident of Taloja, shares, “There has been a very pungent and stinking smell doing the rounds during the wee hours, even afternoons and during the nights. And it is not just bad smell alone, it makes the eyes water and nose itchy leaving behind a burning sensation.”

The question that bothers residents now is that if the MPCB really took action against the companies violating the norms then are these new companies taking their place or the same companies that were left with a warning (four of them).

Suraj Sharma, a resident of Kharghar, expresses his distrust, “It is nothing more than a gimmick. If the administration really intended to take action then the pollution issues of Kharghar and Taloja would have been minimized. Has that happened? Not at all!”

“The problem continues like before after short breaks. The administration and the MPCB is not bothered at all. They just make an appearance when people get angry and come on the streets in protest.”

“The authorities come up with sugar-coated promises and the all-season “Will-look-into-the-matter lollypop” and the people fall for the sweetness every other time,” he adds.

Many people have been regretting their decision of buying properties in Taloja and Kharghar. What’s worse is that they are not in a condition to sell off or even continue living amid the daily pollution.

Our (LoaclPress.in) opinion

We have a first-hand experience of the pollution in Kharghar and Taloja as we are located in the same vicinity since years. We know for a fact that uprooting the entire industrial belt would not be possible soon but the administration can at least take some willing initiative to try and diffuse the situation. It is very disappointing to see that the concerned authority never intervenes unless residents are in a state of begging. What disappoints even more is the fact that nothing much has changed over the years and every time there is a new promise like action against one or two violating companies or news about installing Continuous Ambient Air Quality (CAAQ) monitoring station etc.

In plain word – these are never solve the problem at all and everybody knows it. So the concerned authorities need to own up their responsibility and do something for the general good.

November 25, 2020 0 comments

Featured News

No relaxation on inflated electricity bills: Consumers will have to pay as per correct meter reading

by Staff Reporter November 20, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

From hinting at a ‘Diwali Bonus’ for troubled electricity consumers across the state to asking them to pay the full billed amount, the energy department has left many disappointed

*Inflated electricty bills have troubled many consumers in Maharashtra* (representative image)

Much to the surprise of many electricity consumers in Maharashtra, the energy minister, Nitin Raut, recently announced that the state government would not provide any relief to consumers who had been overwhelmed by inflated electricity bills. The bills, he said, will have to be paid to the full amount once found to be correct.

It comes as a big shock for many consumers who had been waiting for a ‘Diwali Bonanza’ promised by Raut, just two weeks ago.

Readers must be aware that there had been unrest about electricity bills in the state, especially in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai since the month of June, 2020, concerning ridiculously inflated bills. From common people to celebrities, everybody had been billed exorbitantly.

The electricity department had come up with their version of logical explanations for the justification of such bills. They had explained how during the covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown, the physical meter readings had to be discontinued and between March and May and that power companies had taken into account the average consumption of electricity during the months December, January and February.

They had further argued that power consumption had been on an all-time high during the initial months of the lockdown with everybody working from home and increased use of electrical appliances.

Many incentives like EMI payments and discounts on full payments, were then thrown in to encourage electricity consumers in Maharashtra to pay their bills. Many consumers did pay their bills to avail such offers.

However, there had been consumers who were not so convinced with the billing logic and justification and still continue to debate on incorrect meter readings.

The increased unrest in the state regarding inflated electricity bills had forced many into action and the state government, under the direction of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, took matter into their hands and promised resolution or some sort of substantial relaxation to the distraught consumers.

In the month of August, the Maharashtra government had come up with an announcement of a waiver in electricity bills, wherein they had planned to bear the entire burden of the inflated surplus amount for the month of April, May and June.

However, not many consumers were impressed by the proposal and continued debating.

Presently, there are still an overwhelming number of electricity consumers in Maharashtra who are yet to pay their inflated bills. These people had been waiting for a relief from the energy minister as he had hinted at one. Now it is clear that they will be getting none.

Apparently, the burden on the state exchequer seems to have mounted enormously and hence the efforts of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government to provide relief to the consumers have gone to waste.

As per the new announcement, electricity consumers in the state of Maharashtra will have to pay the full amount, without any relaxation on the inflated bills. However, the state government has allowed them to pay the electricity bills in three equated instalments or avail an incentive of 2% for making a one-time payment of the full amount.

The energy department also blames the Centre for not helping the state of Maharashtra with interest-free financial assistance. They had offered funds at an interest rate of 10.8%, which the state had to decline.

As of now, around 69% of the bills have been recovered and the electricity department is now requesting consumers to pay their bills as per the corrected meter readings.

The electricity department also argued that they had provided uninterrupted power supply during the lockdown. They further explained how Mahavitaran (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) was also a consumer, as it bought electricity from other sources.

MSEDCL is said to be presently facing a debt of Rs. 69,000 crore and is not in any position to increase their debt.

The department urges consumers to make their payments as they had used electricity for the billed months and all needed corrections were also made recently.

It should be noted here that there won’t be any disconnections due to non-payment but consumers should avail the part payment facility and incentives and make their payments as soon as possible if their bills are found to be accurate.

November 20, 2020 0 comments

Featured News

It was Diwali like always: Navi Mumbai citizens gave covid-19 fears a break

by Staff Reporter November 19, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Irrespective of what the ongoing pandemic situation, the NMMC commissioner’s plea for self-discipline or the CM trusting responsible citizens this Diwali, most people in Navi Mumbai celebrated Diwali in more or less the same manner as every other year.

*A good display of firecrackers could be seen in several nodes of Navi Mumbai (Photos of Kharghar during the Diwali celebration)*

Navi Mumbai: The fear, or even concern for covid-19 did not cast any shadow on the festival of lights this year, at least in the city of the twenty first century. Diwali celebrations in the city were carried out great pomp and gaiety and an equally lavish display of fireworks in Navi Mumbai.

During Navi Mumbai Diwali celebrations, it looked like the coronavirus pandemic was a thing of the past with most of the people not giving a second thought to social distancing or other norms. The citizens seemed to have completely failed to comprehend the situation or had chosen to ignore CM Uddhav Thackeray’s “Responsible Citizens” message, or the NMMC Chief, Abhijit Bangar’s message on “Self-discipline”.

Responsibility and Self-discipline were the only things missing this Diwali!

As the evening of Diwali dawned, the city got busy with it’s Diwali celebrations with people dressing up like always, going out like always, visiting families and friends as always, meeting neighbours like always, sharing sweets like always and bursting firecrackers like always!

In Kharghar, it was Diwali like always. People were outside without masks, catching up with friends and neighbours and bursting crackers with their children.

Shubham V., a resident of Kharghar, shares, “Covid-19? Where was that? It was absent it seems! It was just Diwali and the same old celebrations and pollution. Nobody seemed to be bothered about following any social distancing norm or acting responsibly as our dear CM had believed they would. At least not in Kharghar. We are not sure about the rest of the nodes but given the fact that some people don’t give a damn about the pandemic anymore, it must be the same everywhere.”

What’s surprising is that Navi Mumbai saw Diwali celebrations for 2 days back to back, on 14 and 15 November.

Despite the NMMC commissioner remarking that a second wave of coronavirus could be too much to handle, people cared less.

Amid such, there were families and individuals in Navi Mumbai who did best to keep their Diwali festivals within the prescribed norms, by limiting their celebrations to their homes, home-made sweets and delicacies and almost no socializing.

People could also have misunderstood that covid-19 was not so severe now as the number of infections had dipped substantially in Navi Mumbai, as reported by city based tabloids. Although they had stated the fact that it was to make citizens aware that they had to follow the norms even more to keep the numbers low.

The NMMC commissioner had therefore made an appeal to the citizens to celebrate Diwali with self-discipline and utmost care.

Surprisingly, a recent article in a newspaper had read that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had suggested a ban on the sale and bursting of fire crackers and the civic authority had agreed to abide.

As per news, Abhijit Bangar, the civic chief, had informed that they had decided not to allow the sale of fire crackers in the Navi Mumbai. He had also gone ahead with a warning to those found to be selling or bursting crackers. The law enforcement agency was supposed to take action against all such offenders.

If there truly was a ban on firecrackers then how were firecracker shops able to do business and how were citizens able to go ahead with bursting firecrackers for two days?

Whatever the reason, it was clear this Diwali that some people will always put themselves above the well-being of others, at no matter what the cost.

Our (LocalPress.in) opinion

It is disappointing to see people putting celebrations over the well-being of the community. If the people don’t take up responsibility then how can they expect the administration to do their job well?

Anyway, we thank all the citizens of Navi Mumbai who celebrated Diwali as the current situation demanded of us. You have set a great example of a great community!

For those who ignored the well-being of their fellow citizens and displayed a unique level of self-appeasing and ignorance – remember your behaviour when you have complaints about other people not following certain rules or the administration not looking into things that matter to you. They will be acting just like you!

November 19, 2020 0 comments

Kharghar Places to visit in Kharghar

Utsav Chowk, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai: A Touch of Greek Architecture

by Staff Reporter November 19, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

Utsav Chowk reflects the Greek architecture style and stands tall as a proud beacon greeting those who visit Kharghar

Utsav Chowk, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai: A Touch of Greek Architecture

Utsav Chowk, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai is a marvellous architectural structure

Utsav Chowk is a landmark structure located at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. What makes it distinct is the Greek architecture style, the structure is designed in, clubbed together with a dainty garden and fountain. It is located at the junction of sectors 4.5 and 7 and acts as a welcoming beacon of Kharghar.

The architectural beauty of Utsav Chowk is visible during the days, especially during the monsoons when it resembles ancient Greek arenas and amphitheaters covered by dark clouds and lashed upon by the rains. It kind of looks like a Historical place.

During the nights, the well light Utsav Chowk reflects it’s colourful lights on the waterfall cascading down.

The Utsav Chowk structure is one of the best places to visit in Kharghar as it is nothing less than a marvelous welcoming structure that does more than just decorate the junction. It is more of a proud insignia of the people of Kharghar, just like the Shilp Chowk structure, also located in Kharghar.

Location: Kharghar
City: Navi Mumbai
Taluka: Panvel Taluka
District: Raigad District
State: Maharashtra
Local Administration: Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC)

Utsav Chowk reflects Greek Architecture style

Utsav Chowk stands out for it’s Greek styled architecture. To be precise, the structure of Utsav Chowk resembles the Colosseum, the arena that was shown in the movie The Gladiator!

About the Colosseum – Well, those who are unaware, the Colosseum still is the largest and most famous ancient amphitheater in Rome. The grand structure was envisioned by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and though he had started the work, it was finally completed by his son Titus in 80 AD. History tells that the Colosseum’s grand opening ceremonies carried on for around 100 days. The spectacles that had taken place included slaughter of around 5,000 animals. Most distinctly, it has seen gladiators fighting for their lives and honour with around 2,000 losing their lives during the events.

The Colosseum had more than 80 entrances and a capacity of 50,000 spectators. There were sails called “Velarium” attached to the top of the attic, to protect the spectators from the rain and scorching sun.

Utsav Chowk Garden and Fountain

There is a small patch of grass and plants that form a garden and carpet the structure. There are some pretty flowers in it.

Also, there is a fountain at the centre of the Utsav Chowk structure that is put to action during special events. It is a pretty good sight, especially during the nights when the colourful lights reflect on the flowing water.

The erstwhile Kharghar Utsav Chowk Khau Galli

Just a few years ago, the Utsav Chowk was also the epicenter of the street food scenario of Kharghar. It had earned the chowk the moniker of “Khau Galli” and to be frank, it was justified in every sense.

During the evenings, the Utsav Chowk would turn into a street food hub as dainty carts, lined up on one side of the foot paths, dishing out lip smacking food items. Foodies of all age groups could be seen crowding up the street food carts in large groups. It was nothing less than a street food haven for the residents of Kharghar and even surrounding places like CBD-Belapur, Kamothe up to Panvel.

However, the local administration found it detrimental to the aesthetics of the place and also owing to their stand against street vendors occupying public spaces. After a brief period, the Kharghar Khau Galli was officially removed to nearby places. Some of them even rented out a huge shop to jointly run their food business under the banner “Grand Utsav Food Court” which continues to attract a huge crowd of foodies every day.

Evenings at Utsav Chowk, Kharghar

During evenings, Utsav Chowk turns into a local hot spot frequented by many. You can see youngsters sitting around in groups, having fun with their friends, families bringing along their kids to sit along the wall lining the footpath, while their kids play along and evening walkers and joggers passing by, every now and then.

There are some famous eateries and food stalls near Utsav Chowk at Hiranandani Crystal Plaza, Swarna Complex and Bhoomi Tower. People grab a light snack to be relished sitting comfortably at the chowk.

Events at Kharghar Utsav Chowk

There have been few but some great events at Utsav Chowk in the past. During the Navi Mumbai Festival, 2010, drummer Shivmani had performed at the Utsav Chowk to a huge enthusiastic crowd. There are two vacant plots next to Utsav Chowk that host events like a circus, arts and craft exhibitions and the Kharghar Dandiya Festival, every year.

How to reach Kharghar Utsav Chowk

Kharghar Railway Station to Utsav Chowk – 4 min (1.6 km) – via Bharti Vidyapeeth – Utsav Chowk Rd/Raintree Marg

Kharghar Hiranandani – Highway or Pravesh Marg to Utsav Chowk – 2 min (700 m) via Pravesh Marg

Taloja Highway to Utsav Chowk – 14 min (6.6 km) via Raintree Marg/Utsav Chowk – CISF Rd

Directions (Google map) to reach Utsav Chowk, Kharghar

November 19, 2020 0 comments

Culture Featured Festivals & Traditions News

With no ban on firecrackers, Diwali could increase covid-19 cases in Maharashtra

by Staff Reporter November 13, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

With CM Uddhav Thackeray deciding not to ban firecrackers in the state of Maharashtra, and trusting the people to behave responsibly instead, there may be a surge in covid-19 infections post Diwali, as people have already started bursting crackers.

While several states across the country decided that a ban on firecrackers during Diwali celebrations was in the best interest of the people and the country on a whole, Maharashtra has taken a different path. CM Uddhav Thackeray has utmost trust in the people of Maharashtra and has decided to allow them to act responsibly and decide whether or not to buy firecrackers in the first place. He expressed his faith in the people to act responsibly just like they did during the Ganesh Utsav and Navratri Festival.

While it all sounds so inspiring, we would like to mention that covid-19 cases in Maharashtra had surged post Ganesh Utsav celebrations. So letting people have their way during a festival that tends to pollute even during normal times, seems like playing with fire.

Also read: No ban on firecrackers in Maharashtra this Diwali

There has already been a rise in the number of cases this week

On Wednesday, around six lakh covid-19 cases were reported in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), and eight bordering civic corporations. Having said that, the MMR regions remains the most affected in the state. Mumbai accounts for half of the newly reported cases.

Mumbai has 44% (2, 66,748) of the cases reported.

The next most affected area in the region are Kalyan-Dombivli, with 55,208 cases.

Navi Mumbai has around 50,000 covid-19 cases.

Also read: Strictly avoid firecrackers this Diwali to stop covid-19 infections from spreading fast

Cases are doubling in Mumbai even before Diwali

Covid-19 cases in Mumbai have already doubled this week from around 500 cases reported on Monday and Tuesday, to more than a 1,000 cases on Wednesday. The BMC credited the rise in cases to the increased testing in the city.

Diwali shopping will increase the number of infections

Some of the areas popular for Diwali shopping in Navi Mumbai are already receiving increased footfalls with people walking shoulder to shoulder at some places. Needless to say what the outcome of such behaviour will be.

People have already starting buying firecrackers and making plans for Diwali celebrations and that sounds alarming.

In the last such big festival, Ganesh Utsav, many people had given social distancing a break and the results were seen in a surge of coronavirus cases in Maharsahtra.

Diwali will make it worse as socializing and use of firecrackers (causing pollution) will increase the chances of the infection spreading fast.

Also read: How to celebrate Diwali safely amid covid-19

People have already been ignoring masks and social distancing

Though some people have been following social distancing norms but the fact is that most of the people in Navi Mumbai have already started ignoring them with the lack of a strict monitoring task force.

It is obvious that there will be increased or complete ignorance of social distancing norms in Navi Mumbai areas during Diwali, like it is happening now, and that will be a recipe for disaster.

Pollution by Diwali firecrackers is very dangerous in covid-19 times

All available studies and researches have been connecting pollution to the growth and spread of coronavirus and the harm it can bring upon recovering or recovered patients. In areas where people will be bursting crackers this Diwali, the chances of the virus spreading further will be increased.

Also read: Diwali 2020 will be the best one ever for pets and stray animals

Firecrackers should have been banned this Diwali for the general good

To be frank, a majority of people we spoke with, were of the opinion that firecrackers should have been banned in Maharashtra. The decision of CM Uddhav Thackeray to trust the people to act responsibly is inspiring and thought provoking, but it would have been better if firecrackers were banned at least this Diwali, given the amount of threat not banning them poses, under prevailing circumstances.

The people just hope that everyone behaves as responsibly as the CM thinks they will!

Happy Firecrackerless-Pollutionless-Diwali!

November 13, 2020 0 comments

Featured News

No ban on firecrackers in Maharashtra this Diwali

by Staff Reporter November 10, 2020

written by Staff Reporter

While most of the states have already banned firecrackers, Maharashtra has decided to trust the citizens to act responsibly

Much to the surprise and against the expectation of many, the state of Maharashtra has informed about their decision to allow use of firecrackers this Diwali. The message was conveyed to the public on social platforms by CM Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

As reported first by Indian Express, the CM, in his address to the state, said that although there was a rise in covid-19 cases in states like Delhi owing to pollution, there was no need to ban firecrackers in Maharashtra as the people here had been acting responsibly throughout the year. He also said that he believed that the people of Maharashtra will celebrate as responsibly as they did during the other festivals.

He further urged the people of Maharashtra to celebrate Diwali in a humble way by simply lighting lamps and indulging in home-made faraal. He further advised to avoid firecrackers this Diwali or at least keep their use to the minimum.

He expressed his utmost trust in the people of Maharashtra and expected them to refrain from overcrowding during the Diwali celebrations and polluting their neighbourhoods.

Also read: Strictly avoid firecrackers this Diwali to stop covid-19 infections from spreading fast

Also read: How to celebrate Diwali safely amid covid-19

Also Read: Diwali 2020 will be the best one ever for pets and stray animals

Our (LocalPress.in) opinion
It is such a pleasant feeling to see the faith that CM Uddhav Thackeray has in the people of Maharashtra and we hope that the people will not disappoint him.

November 10, 2020 0 comments

Newer Posts

Older Posts