On the occasion of World Environment Day, Delhi Environment Minister Shri Gopal Rai planted trees in Civil Lines. He said that this time the whole country, including Delhi is facing severe heat wave. People of Delhi should plant as many trees as possible on the rooftops of their houses. This will help in reducing pollution as well as heat wave. He said that the Delhi government is continuously running a tree plantation campaign to increase green cover. As a result, today the green cover in Delhi has increased to 23.06%, whereas in 2013 it was 20%.
The Environment Minister said to increase the green cover, the Delhi government had set a target of planting 2 crore saplings in 5 years, which has been achieved in just 4 years. Public participation is necessary to keep the environment better and pollution free. An appeal to all Delhiites is that neither you pollute nor let anyone do it.
Shri Gopal Rai said that our government makes winter and summer action plans to reduce pollution and heat wave in Delhi. On this basis, work is done in collaboration with all the departments concerned. As a result of the ongoing tree plantation campaign in Delhi, the green cover has increased to 23.06% in 2021, whereas it was 20% in 2013.
Also, Delhi is number one in the whole country in terms of per capita forest cover of cities. The survival rate of plants planted in Delhi in the past years is also checked, so that better monitoring of tree plantation work in the state can be ensured. Under the Green Action Plan 2023-24, the Delhi government had set a target of planting and distributing 52 lakh saplings, which has almost been completed.
Shri Gopal Rai said that the Model code of conduct is currently in place. This campaign will be further intensified by holding a meeting with all the greening agencies next week. Apart from tree plantation and protection of trees, our government has also been working on the construction of city forests in the city. The main objective of developing these city forests is to provide such an environment to the people of Delhi, in which people can enjoy nature and make the coming generation aware about nature. “In the important guarantee that we had given to the people of Delhi, we had set a target of planting 2 crore trees in 5 years to improve the environment of Delhi. The target of planting 2 crore trees was completed within 4 years itself. Which has been almost completed by all the green agencies,” he said.
Shri Gopal Rai said that just like harsh winter, this time Delhi and the whole country have had to face searing heat wave. In this, tree plantation is the only way through which we can avoid the fury of nature and reduce it. Looking at the pollution that arises in Delhi during winter and the way this harsh heat wave has come in summer, we also appeal to the people of Delhi to increase the green belt as much as possible. Continuous work is being done by the Delhi government. In the last assembly elections 5 years ago, Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal had appealed to the people of Delhi that we all will together plant 2 crore trees in Delhi. We are happy that the Delhi government, along with the people of Delhi, has completed the target of distributing and planting more than 2 crore trees in just 4 years. This year, we will run this tree plantation campaign with more strength, he added.
The Environment Minister of Delhi made a special appeal to the people of Delhi and said that now the land for planting trees in Delhi is decreasing. Therefore, on a personal level, we should all try to make the rooftops of our houses green as well. So that this heat wave and pollution can be reduced. He said to improve the environment of Delhi, everyone has to take a pledge today on the occasion of Environment Day that neither will we pollute, nor will we let anyone do it. Because, only with public participation will the roadmap be made to make the environment better and pollution free, he concluded.
