Delhi government begins 15 days mega plantation drive

New Delhi: Delhi government has started the ‘Van Mahotsav’ a plantation drive, under which 10 lakh saplings will be planted all across the state.

The Delhi government has set a target to plant two crore saplings, under which 35 lakh saplings will be planted this year alone.

Inaugurating the ‘Van Mahotsav’ at Central Ridge, Environment and Forest Minister Gopal Rai said, “As a result of all the measures taken by the Government, a significant increase in the green cover has been seen inside Delhi.

“In the year 2013, the green area in Delhi was 20%, but thanks to the efforts of the Kejriwal Government, it has increased to 23.06 percent for the year 2021” he added.

To give impetus to the tree plantation campaign included in the 14 points of the Summer Action Plan, Van Mahotsav has started from July 11, and for the next 15 days, a mega plantation drive will be carried out in different areas of Delhi under this Mahotsav.

This 15-day event will culminate on July 25 at Asola Bhatti Mines by planting more than 1 lakh saplings and will serve as a catalyst for the tree planting campaign featured in the 14 points of the Summer Action Plan.

This effort to plant trees in various districts will be led by the Deputy Chief Minister of the Delhi Government, Ministers of the Delhi Government, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

“Also, from today this campaign will be carried out in all 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi with the help of the Forest Department officials under the leadership of MLAs.” said the statement.

Under this campaign, about 29 lakh saplings will be planted and around 7 lakh saplings will be distributed free of cost.

Gopal Rai said, “To improve the environment of Delhi, this work has been started by the department on 10 hectares of land in the first phase and further seven and a half thousand hectares area will be restored under this campaign”.

He said, under the drive, free medicinal plants will be distributed to the people of Delhi from 14 government nurseries of Delhi so that people can participate in promoting the green area of Delhi by planting trees in their homes.