Delhi govt directs all depts to plant more than 23 lakh trees and shrubs this year

NEW DELHI: Environment and Forests Minister Imran Hussain on Wednesday directed all the departments to plant more than 23 lakh trees and shrubs this year. "Delhi government proposes to carry out massive plantation drive by planting around more than 23 lakh trees and shrubs, including 4,25,000 free distribution of saplings during the current year 2019-20," noted a statement of the government.

It added that the government proposed to seek the active involvement of local residents, resident welfare associations, market associations, school and college students etc. so that green cover of Delhi could be enhanced for combating the ill effect of air pollution. "Delhi Parks & Gardens Society (DPGS) was directed to ensure free distribution of saplings so that the plantation drive could be carried out smoothly. All the greening agencies were directed to send the locations where the plantation is proposed with at least one indicative geo coordinate along with target allocated for the location," note the statement.

Hussain also directed all greening agencies to set aside locations and targets for one-day mass plantation tentatively scheduled in the third week of July 2019 and the information is to be provided in consultation with Forest Department being the nodal agency. During the meeting, the targets achieved during the 2018-19 were also reviewed. Majority of the landowning agencies informed that they have achieved the plantation targets set for them for the financial year, 2018-19.

The minister directed all the agencies to carry out a third-party audit of the trees/shrubs plantation done during the period 2015-18.