With an aim to plant over 33 lakh saplings across the national Capital, the Delhi Government on Saturday launched a mega plantation drive on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the Government will also hold a mega plantation drive or Van Mahotsav from June 26 to July 11 in which over 33 lakh saplings will be planted across the city.
Rai said that all the Cabinet ministers of Delhi, the speaker of Delhi legislative assembly, all the MLAs, NGOs and RWA‘s will take part in this mega plantation drive of medicinal plants.
“The medicinal plants which are available with the Delhi government nurseries are Amla, Amrud, Arjun, Jamun, Neem, Tulsi and others. The Delhi government has 14 nurseries and person can visit these nurseries to get medicinal plants for free from Monday,” he said.
The minister further said that the government has taken several steps to combat the air pollution in Delhi such as bringing the tree transplantation policy, anti-dust pollution campaign, electric vehicle policy, and Red light on Gaadi off campaign and even become the first state to come up with a solution to stubble burning by using bio decomposer.
"There are various other factors which cause the air pollution of northern India including Delhi. In the NCR there are around 10 thermal power plants which are one of the major contributors to this pollution. The Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court against these thermal power plants," he added.
The mega plantation drive will be handled by several different Delhi government departments and agencies including the environment department, Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporations, Public Works Department, BSES and others, he said, adding that on ninth June we will hold a virtual meeting with all these agencies and the entire plan will be finalised.
He also appealed the citizens of Delhi to plant one tree under the initiative of ‘one sapling for one life’.
Meanwhile, South Corporation planted nearly 2,800 trees and shrubs in all its four zones on Saturday.
