The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi is greener; South Delhi greenest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 20, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi is greener; South Delhi greenest

Aarti Dhar

`State of Forest Report— 2003' finds significant increase in forest cover

GOOD NEWS FOR DELHI: The Union Minister for Environment and Forests, A. Raja (left) and his Minister of State, Namo Narayan Meena, releasing the "State of Forest Report - 2003" in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt (another report on page 7)

NEW DELHI: Delhi's forest cover has increased by 58.84 sq km, according to the State of Forest Report, 2003, released by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests here on Tuesday.

Of a total geographical area of 1,483 sq km, as much as 170.17 sq km of the Capital is under forest cover, accounting for 11.46 per cent of the total area. While there is no very dense forest, 52 sq km have been categorised under moderately dense forests and 118.15 sq km is under open forest or forests grown under forestation programmes.

The report, prepared by the Dehra Dun-based Forest Survey of India, places South Delhi on top of the list with 79 sq km of the total 250 sq km being under forest. This includes 15 sq km moderately dense and 64 sq km open forest. This district comprises the Asola Bhatti wildlife and bird sanctuary, accounting for a major portion of the 31.6 per cent of the green cover. There has been an increase of 26.44 sq km of forest area when compared to the State of Forest Report--2001.

But in terms of percentage, New Delhi district or Lutyen's Delhi puts up an excellent show with 41.6 per cent of its 34.9 sq km under forest cover. The moderately dense forest covers 7 sq km and the open forest 7.5 sq km of the 14.54 sq km green area, showing an increase of 4.81 sq km as against the previous survey.

The green cover has increased by 10.52 sq km in the South-West district taking the percentage of forest in the 420 sq km area to 9.66 per cent. This comprises a moderately dense forest of 13.88 sq km and open forest of 26.73 sq km. Similarly, the forest cover in central Delhi has gone up by 3 sq km, suggesting that the 24.68 sq km district has 5.2 sq km or 21.07 per cent of its area under green cover that includes 2.8 sq km of a moderately dense area.

The forest area has significantly increased in the 440 sq km North-West Delhi district where the enhancement has been to the tune of 7 sq km. The 6.6 sq km moderately dense and 8.84 sq km of open forest comprise 3.51 per cent of the total geographical area. The 60 sq km of North-East Delhi has a dismal 2.7 sq km of total forest which is only about 4.48 per cent of the area. There has been an increase of 0.85 sq km of green belt in this industrial area.

An increase of 1.52 sq km of forest has been detected in North Delhi, taking the percentage of green cover in the 59 sq km district to 8 per cent. This includes 3 sq km of moderately dense and 1.68 sq km of open forest. The total forest area here is 4.7 sq km.

In East Delhi, 1.37 sq km of forest has been added to the 63.76 sq km geographical area. The percentage of area under forest now is 4.61 per cent consisting of approximately 1 sq km of moderately dense forest and 2 km of open forest. The addition in central Delhi has been to the tune of 3 sq km where 21.7 per cent of the 24.68 sq km district is now under a green cover. This includes 2.8 sq km of moderately dense and 2.4 sq km of open forest.

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