By IANS,
New Delhi: In order to enhance Delhi’s green cover, the city government Saturday launched a mass plantation drive, led by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, to plant saplings along the Ring Road Bypass area in the capital.
The move is part of the Delhi government’s decision to increase the capital’s green area up to 33 percent, which is the national target. Delhi has 299.58 sq km of forest cover or about 20.20 percent of its territory.
“Delhi has decided to plant more than one million saplings during this monsoon season. Apart from this, it has also been decided to enhance survival rate of planted saplings by providing them affectionate care,” said Dikshit.
The government departments like Delhi Metro, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, and non governmental organisation were involved in the effort.
“The government during the one-and-half month campaign will provide all possible help to all organisations that express their willingness to participate in this vast greening exercise,” added Dikshit.
The government has also decided to provide free sapling across Delhi.