To Curb The Alarming Pollution, Delhiites Come Together To Plant 5 Lakh Trees In A Day
Delhi has been battling to bring down the alarming air pollution levels which is one of the worst in the world. On Saturday Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a mega tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at the Yamuna floodplain in Usmanpur village. The government wants to plant 5 lakh trees and shrubs in the city in a day as part of the drive. Around one lakh students and residents are participating in the campaign at 600 locations ac...Read More
Delhi has been battling to bring down the alarming air pollution levels, which is one of the worst in the world. A number of solutions have been tried out by the government so far including odd-even to spraying water into the sky.
But the effects so far have been minimal and temporary, the air quality continues to remain toxic even after all the efforts. On Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a mega tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at the Yamuna floodplain in Usmanpur village, with thousands others joining him in the initiative.
PTI
The government wants to plant 5 lakh trees and shrubs in the city in a day as part of the drive. Kejriwal said studies have shown 70 per cent of pollution in Delhi originated beyond its borders, but "this could not be an excuse to avoid tackling the situation".
"Apart from a massive plantation, we also need to reduce pollution," he said.
AFP
The Delhi government's Environment and Forest Secretary A K Singh said the target is to plant 32.5 lakh trees in the current year. So far, around 15 lakh have been planted, he said.
According to officials said around one lakh students and residents are participating in the campaign at 600 locations across the city to fight air pollution.
Delhi Environment Minister @ImranHussaain planeted saplings at Jaunpur Forest under Delhi Govt¡¯s Mega Tree Plantation Drive.#VanMahotsav #??_??_????_?????? pic.twitter.com/kBgXGpWFMu
¡ª Aam Aadmi Party Delhi (@AAPDelhi) September 8, 2018
Participating in Delhi Govt¡¯s tree plantation drive, today,BSES planted 6,000 trees, including over 5000 at CRPF Camp, in W Delhi,in presence of area SDM Ms Bhanu Prabha & at a Govt school in Mundka @LtGovDelhi @ArvindKejriwal @msisodia @SatyendarJain @ImranHussaain @suraiya95 pic.twitter.com/ednYyvtnfr
¡ª BSES Delhi (@bsesdelhi) September 8, 2018
A large number of school children and RWAs across the national capital also joined the drive on Saturday and planted saplings near their houses and neighbourhoods.
Thank you @ArvindKejriwal @msisodia @ImranHussaain for today¡¯s Mega Tree Plantation Drive. Over 5 lac trees are being planted today to make our Delhi green & pollution free. We owe this to our children & their future. Great enthusiasm in Dwarka as well. pic.twitter.com/pLFSWaVWIS
¡ª Adarsh Shastri (@adarshshastri) September 8, 2018
AAP leader @AtishiAAP along with Jangpura MLA @Aap_Praveen took part in the Mega Tree Plantation Drive today, in an effort to tackle Delhi's air pollution#??_??_????_?????? #VanMahotsav pic.twitter.com/0L1jUS9JcD
¡ª Atishi For Change (@AtishiForChange) September 8, 2018
Incidentally, the plantation drive in Delhi also comes after the national capital had made news for a proposal to cut down some 14000 trees in South Delhi to redevelop some neighbourhoods.
The idea was scrapped after massive protests by residents and activists who also challenged it in the court.
The amicus curiae appointed by the Delhi High Court had questioned how the government could allow cutting of trees for such a project in Delhi, which was categorised as one of the most polluted cities in the world.
