The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is set to plant 2.6 lakh trees in the current year. While giving details of the plantation, GDA vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Yadav appealed to the individuals, NGOs and corporate houses on Tuesday to participate in this initiative.
The vice-chairman announced that the GDA would launch a massive plantation drive on August 2 in the city forest where 40,000 trees would be planted at one go. On this occasion, chief warden of Civil Defence lalit Jaiswal said that Civil Defence will come along with the GDA in launching the drive in order to make the city a green hub. The Civil Defence and GDA have identified areas in city forest — Raj Nagar Extension, Madhuban Bapu Dham, Govindpuram, Indirapuram, Vaishali, Koyal Enclave and Mohan Nagar — where 950 wardens would work after dividing the city into 15 sectors.
Earlier, 1.6 lakh trees were to be planted but the State Government revised the target to 2.6 lakh. The trees to be planted include neem, babool, Dalbergia sissoo, Ficus religiosa and Cassia fistula. About 9,000 trees would be protected by tree guards planted on sensitive areas like road dividers. 15 per cent green cover would be maintained in the city as mentioned in the master plan. 40 per cent shrubs and 60 large trees are set to be planted, added the GDA vice-chairman.