Delhi agencies have been given a target of planting 10 lakh saplings this year across the city and Forest Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday asked the department to achieve the goal to increase the green cover, since pre-Monsoon showers have set and it is expected that soil moisture level will now be maintained till the season end.
The officers of Forest Department informed the Minister that the target has been given to agencies to achieve tree plantation of 10 lakh saplings instead of 8.26 lakh.
Department of Forests and Wildlife will be planting around four lakh saplings besides arranging free distribution of seedlings during Monsoon to ensure tree plantation on all available land in Delhi through participation of people.
All three MCDs are planting more than two lakh saplings. DDA, Education Department are planting more than one lakh saplings in their areas and school premises respectively.
Besides this, 17 more agencies are participating in tree plantation drive in ensuing monsoon and shall plant around three lakh saplings.
It may be mentioned that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, has fixed the target of tree plantation of 8.26 lakh in the year 2017-18 for Delhi.
Hussain, on the occasion, said that more and more tree plantation is the only way to improve air quality by reducing carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration cycle. Trees also reduce the particulate matter in the air which reaches a dangerous level in Delhi particularly during winters, he noted.
The minister directed that the plantation drive be taken up in the month of July-August, as in North India, climate in these months is highly favourable for growing of trees like neem, pilkhan, barh, jamun, amla, baherha, hingot, palash etc.
The tree plantation will be done in various parts of city/ assembly constituencies from July 15 onwards on daily basis by the concerned MLAs, RWAs etc. with the help of Delhi Park & Garden Society, Forest Department etc.
The Minister appealed to the citizens to actively participate in making Delhi green. Citizens should clean the garbage dumping corners of their colonies and ensure tree plantation on the area. It will not only beautify the area but also restrict the people from re-dumping of garbage.