The Hindu : New Delhi News : More green cover on the cards

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Friday, Jul 22, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

More green cover on the cards

Staff Reporter

DDA unveils plan to plant more saplings

GOING GREEN: More trees on the way. Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: Delhi is all set to go greener. A plan to plant 160,000 trees and 2,75,000 shrubs in parks all over the Capital was revealed at a Van Mahotsava function organised by the Delhi Development Authority at Smriti Van in Vasant Kunj on Wednesday. In addition, 32,500 trees will be planted along the national highways.

The function at Smriti Van -- where 5,000 trees and 15,000 shrubs are to be planted by DDA, of which 1,000 trees and 1,500 shrubs were planted on Wednesday itself -- was inaugurated by the Urban Development Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and attended by Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, B.L. Joshi, and the Member of Parliament from Outer Delhi, Sajjan Kumar, all of whom planted saplings on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Azad said it had been the endeavour of the Central Government, City Government and DDA to make the Capital greener and the Van Mahotsava is a step in that direction.

Mr. Joshi said the Van Mahotsava was a conscious effort towards tree plantation and afforestation and is taken up by DDA every year on a large scale. Apart from the Government, he said, people should also be involved in maintaining the ecological balance of this city and trees should not only be planted but also be protected to make the city greener.

The Smriti Van is spread over 13.6 hectares and the existing depressions there have been modulated to serve as water harvesting ponds. And the walking trails are being made into ``murrum'' paths.

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