NEW DELHI: With a plantation drive of 31 lakh saplings, Delhi is planning to increase it green cover by the 2021, informed minister of environment Gopal Rai on Thursday.
Rai also announced that a special 17-day long mega plantation drive will be launched by the government to create awareness about the importance of green cover in reducing pollution.
“We are committed to reducing the pollution level of Delhi. Therefore government will be launching a mega plantation drive in Delhi from July 10-26. ‘Plant Saplings, Save Environment’ will be the name of the campaign,” said Rai. According to the government the plantation drive is expected to increase the city’s green cover from 325 square kilometres at present to 350 sq km by 2021, which will help reduce air pollution. Rai said the period will be observed as “Vrikshaaropan Pakhavaada”.
“In the last few years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the green cover of Delhi due to the mega plantation initiatives of the Delhi government. The increasing green cover is beneficial to reduce the pollution level” added the environment minister.
The Aam Aadmi Party government plans to do twice more than what the Centre asked for it to do in terms if plantation target for this year with planting 31 lakh saplings. In order to study the survival rate of the plantation the forest department of Delhi has asked Forest Research Institute of Dehradun to conduct audit.
“In the last few years, the Delhi government has worked tirelessly to increase the green cover of Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal before the election in his guarantee card promised that in the coming five years the Delhi government will plant 2 crore saplings across the city” said Rai.
In the plantation drive all the ministers, Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and the MLAs will take part Rai will inaugurate the drive at ITO nursery near the Yamuna Bank on July 10.