Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday inaugurated the "Van Mahotsav'' at Ghari Mandu on Yamuna Bank in which 33 lakh saplings will be planted this year as part of its goal of planting two crore trees in its five-year term.
Rai said that the Delhi Government will run a tree plantation drive across the national Capital for the next 15 days as part of "Van Mahotsav",
“All 70 Legislative Assemblies will have tree transplantation under the leadership of MLAs. Deputy CM of Delhi, Minister and Speaker of the Assembly will lead the grand campaign of this plantation in different places from Sunday,” he said.
The Minister said that instructions have been given to audit all the saplings that are being planted in Delhi. “The audit of the forest department has been completed. Government has listed agencies under tree transplantation policy and now instead of cutting trees, transplant can be done. The Delhi government has started preparations now to deal with the problem of pollution in the winter season. My appeal is that all Delhiites should participate in the Van Mahotsav so that we all can get rid of the problem of pollution,” he said.
Also, to control the pollution problem in the national capital, he said, agencies have been finalised that will monitor replantation of the trees that are cut due to development works.
"The agency will make sure the trees and plants removed during any development work are planted at another location," Rai said.
The move is part of the new tree plantation policy that was cleared last year to prevent felling of trees due to development works in the national Capital.