Environment dept to speed up tree plantation project

NEW DELHI: The Environment department of Delhi government is likely to speed up the plantation works in Delhi to achieve its target by this year.

Delhi Environment minister Imran Hussain reviewed the work and expressed displeasure over the slow pace. He is likely to hold a meeting with higher officials.

Earlier, greening agencies had set a plantation target of 11,60,300 trees and 10,00,000 shrubs during 2017-18.

The Forest Department informed that as of August end, about 50 per cent of the plantation target has been achieved, including shrubs, while another 10 per cent is likely to be achieved by September.

Nearly 70 per cent of shrub plantation will be completed by September, an official said.

Hussain observed that this year Delhi had a good monsoon, but the pace of the work was not impressive.

In the recent review, the department found that many goals were not achieved.

To finish the project, the minister directed the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to discuss the issue with all greening agencies in Delhi and to give deadlines to each.

A source in the government observed that if the goals are not achieved, the department may take strong action and cancel future engagements with these agencies.

Earlier, Hussain had told Millennium Post: "Monsoon is the best time to do most of the plantation and we will work our best on it."

He had also directed the department to embark on a tree plantation campaign across the city during monsoon.

Hussain had formed an inter-departmental committee, comprising of senior officials.

"I have made a small group of officials and appointed nodal officers, who directly report to me about the progress of the campaign," the minister had said.

Among the members of this group are officials of civic bodies, the Delhi government and Delhi Development Authority.