n In order to increase the city’s green cover, the Delhi Government will organise ‘Van Mahotsav’ from June 26 to July 11. Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said all departments concerned have been instructed to ensure maximum participation. The city Government has set itself the target of planting 33 lakh saplings all over Delhi this year.
Rai chaired a virtual meeting with all stakeholders and departments regarding the massive plantation drive.
“Our focus is to plant such saplings that will help in reducing pollution. In this plantation drive, about 18 lakh saplings will be planted. Different agencies – the PWD, the DTC, the education department, the Jal Board and the DDA will plant saplings,” Rai said.
The land owning agency and the council will plant six lakh plants, and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will plant five lakh saplings. “A total of 33 lakh saplings will be planted by all three MCDs. Apart from this, saplings will also be planted through the Metro, CPWD, Northern Railway, NDPL, Delhi Cantonment Board, BSES,” Rai added.
All Cabinet Ministers of Delhi, the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, MLAs, NGOs and RWAs will participate in this mega plantation drive.
The Minister further informed that a mega plantation drive of medicinal plants has been started on the occasion of World Environment Day. The Government has 14 nurseries in Delhi and anyone can visit the nursery and get medicinal plants free of cost. The medicinal plants available in the Delhi Government Nursery are Amla, Guava, Arjun, Jamun, Neem, Tulsi etc.”