Newly married couples will now pledge not only togetherness but also that they will make all efforts to create environment awareness among the masses.

It is the Vishrambaugwada ward office of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) that has come up with this novel concept to spread environment awareness by getting a pledge signed by newly married couples who apply for marriage certificate from ward offices.

The civic body started registration of marriages a year ago after the state government decentralised the marriage registration in the state. The PMC does marriage registration in all its 14 ward offices.

“We have started marriage registration in our office a year ago. However, the idea to take up public awareness on environment was launched about six months ago and so far has been a success,” Vishrambaugwada ward officer Madhav Jagtap said.

Jagtap said around 1,000 marriages have been registered with his office so far and all the couples have pledged on environment awareness.

In the pledge signed in the presence of three witnesses, the couples promise that they will work towards reducing pollution in the city. They also pledge that they will segregate dry and wet garbage. They also promise tree conservation and to plant a tree every year.

“Through this initiative, we can reach five people — couple and three witness — at a time to create awareness on environment,” Jagtap said.