Environment and Forest Minister Shri Gopal Rai today inaugurated the second ‘Van Mahotsav’ from Dwarka in West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. During the program, Green Action Plan Portal was launched to make tree plantation progress available to Delhiites. Students and teachers from Eco Clubs, RWA members, Former MP Mahabal Mishra and MLAs of West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Gulab Singh, Rajkumari Dhillon, Rajesh Rishi, Dhanwati Chandela, Naresh Baliyan and Girish Soni registered their participation for the program. The Kejriwal government has set a target of planting more than 52 lakh saplings this year. Apart from this, 50 lakh plants / shrubs will be planted by NDMC. Free medicinal plants were also distributed by the department to all the people present in the program.
While Addressing the people, children and teachers present at the Van Mahotsav program, Shri Gopal Rai said, “Pollution in Delhi is always a big challenge. After the formation of our government, under the leadership of CM Arvind Kejriwal, continuous work has been done to reduce the pollution level of Delhi. As a result of all these measures, there is decline in the level of pollution inside Delhi and a considerable increase in green cover has been observed inside Delhi. Every year tree plantation drive is carried out in the state under the Green Action Plan by the Government of Delhi. Due to this, Van Mahotsav was started from IARI Pusa on July 9 to give impetus to the tree plantation campaign included in the 14 points of the Summer Action Plan. Moving forward in the same sequence, today we are celebrating the second Van Mahotsav program in West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. This year, our government is joining the entire Delhi people in celebrating Van Mahotsav by planting trees and distributing saplings in various Delhi Lok Sabha seats on every Sunday for the entire seven-week period. Children and teachers of different schools from each Lok Sabha constituency were also present to support the government in this noble initiative. The following Van Mahotsav celebration will take place at Asola Bhati in the South Lok Sabha constituency on July 30.”
“Every year tree plantation campaign is being conducted to increase the green belt of Delhi and to reduce the pollution of Delhi. In the second term of the Kejriwal government i.e. from the year 2020, since our government was formed, till 2022-23, 1 crore 18 lakh saplings have been planted. This year also our government has set a target of planting 52 lakh saplings. This target will be accomplished by the green agencies of all the 21 concerned departments. Apart from this 50 lakh saplings/shrubs will be planted by NDMC”, he further added.
The Environment and Forests Minister announced, “To ensure successful outcome of the Green Action Plan target, the Department of Forests and Wildlife has come up with the Green Action Plan portal named https://gap.eforest.delhi.gov.in/ for making monthly plantation progress along with geo locations and photographs of the plantation sites visible for citizens of Delhi. Further, to monitor the growth and survival rate of the plantation the portal has the provision for submission of third party audit reports.”
Important features of the portal:
• Geo-locations of the plantation site can be seen by citizens.
• Feedback can be given by the citizens.
He further said, “In the last Van Mahotsav program, the online portal was also started by the department for distribution of saplings from where Delhi residents can book free saplings. Through this online portal, the applicant will be required to click a selfie with the booked sapling and upload it on the portal. Through which the departments will be able to keep track of the real time data of the plants distributed.”
Shri Rai said, “The Van Mahotsav program’s sole objective is for everyone to work together to make the tree-planting campaign a successful one. The Kejriwal government is making an effort on its level. However, I am confident that Delhi will soon be able to free itself of the pollution issue if we all incorporate tree planting into our culture and daily lives.”
