In an effort to make Delhi livable and to curb pollution, the national Capital on Saturday witnessed a mega plantation drive by various Government departments and agencies, including Delhi Jal Board(DJB) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi State Legal Services (DSLSA), which planted lakhs of saplings across the city.
Around 8,000 employees, including the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akhil Kumar and other senior officials, participated in the plantation exercise and planted about one lakh saplings of different varieties across 28 locations of the city. The drive started from Chandrawal Water Treatment Plant and around one lakh saplings and shrubs of various species, including Jamun, Crotton, Ficus panda, Kaner, Motia, Gardenia, Murria, Gardenia, Jatropha, Bougainvillea, Inerme ,Clerodendrum Inermei, Hibiscus, Hemalia,Chandni, Largerstroemia indica, Calliandra, Tecoma and Gaudi Chaudi across the city.
"Plants and trees are the nature's lungs. Protection, conservation and restoration of our environment are the need of the hour. Through such drives, the DJB is striving to set an example in creating heightened environmental consciousness and much needed behavioural change towards green and eco- friendly existence," said Kumar, CEO of DJB.
The NDMC along Ambassadors Indonesia and Sri Lanka and ten thousands students carried out the plantation drive under its fifth consecutive Tree Plantation Drive and planted about eight thousand trees, 27 thousand shrubs, 59 thousand ground cover at nearby parks, surrounding areas and 10 main roads of New Delhi area. Besides, the Ambassadors has also planted sapling in the premises of their Embassies during the plantation drive.
While the DSLSA in coordination with Air Foundation planted one lakh saplings across the city towards greening Delhi under the project "Green Earth - Clean Earth". It will conduct the plantation drive till October and will plant trees, shrubs, saplings and herbs near observation/children homes, schools, colleges and other government institutions.
"Awareness also spread to adults as well as children on the importance of plantation of trees to battle the climate crisis looming over us. They were also made aware as to how to plant a tree, how to care for it etc," said an official.