The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila urges departments to achieve greening targets

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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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New Delhi

Sheila urges departments to achieve greening targets

Staff Reporter

1.6 lakh saplings to be planted in city forests

NEW DELHI: As part of efforts to make Delhi greener, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has exhorted all official departments and agencies to strive hard to achieve their greening targets for 2007-08.

Addressing a high-level meeting, attended by Environment Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and State Chief Secretary Ramesh Narayanswami among others, the Chief Minister said while during 2006-2007 a total of 18.45 lakh saplings were planted against the target of 17.11 lakh, there was still need to enhance the survival rate of the saplings.

Ms. Dikshit directed the Forests and Wildlife Department to involve traders' associations, residents' welfare associations, eco-clubs, kitchen garden associations and other non-government organisations in this work.

She said while 1.6 lakh saplings would be planted in city forests, a lakh would be planted on the Ridge.

Another one-lakh saplings would be planted along the Najafgarh drain whereas compensatory plantation of 2.88 lakh saplings would be undertaken over an area of 262 hectares in 11 villages. Then in the 14 existing city forests, plans have been drawn to plant around 1.60 lakh saplings.

Plantation

The Delhi Government has also decided to promote plantation of saplings on the premises of Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple and Chhatarpur Temple. The targets for the different departments that would undertake sapling plantation have also been fixed. The meeting was informed that nine new city forests would also be developed in Delhi.

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