Ghaziabad to see massive tree plantation drive

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) in Uttar Pradesh launched a tree plantation drive Thursday. GDA Vice Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav said the drive was named "Jan jan ropan, braksha ropan" (every person plant a tree).

The drive is aimed at spreading the message of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to involve every man and woman in the tree plantation drive so that the movement becomes a revolution of sorts.

Santosh Kumar Yadav said the GDA would gift a sapling to each person in its jurisdiction, so that he or she could nurture it. The hope is that a bond would develop between the individual and the tree he or she nurtures.

A total of 31 centres have been identified for the distribution of saplings. These centres include 18 petrol pumps, one kerosene distributor, five gas suppliers and seven main parks. These are all places where people converge, and the distribution of saplings would be easy at such centres.

Among the parks where people could expect the gifts of saplings are: Central Park in Raj Nagar, Kalaa-Dhaam in Kavi Nagar, Nehru Stadium in Nehru Nagar, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Park in Vaishali, Swarn Jayanti Park in Indirapuram and Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Park in Sahibabad.

The tree plantation drive is sponsored not through funds from the civic agency, but through donations from builders and real estate developers in the city, who have been advised to pay the nurseries directly for saplings purchased under the programme.

In addition to this campaign, the GDA has instructed its Master Plan department to be strict in watching the progress in the plantation of trees in the layout plans of the real estate townships of big developers.

Varieties of the trees -- of all sizes and species -- are included in the programme. The distribution of saplings will begin Aug 1, 2013, and conclude a fortnight later, on the Independence Day.

It is hoped that the green cover in the city would increase dramatically and bring down pollution levels.

Ahead of the distribution of the saplings, an awareness campaign has been launched. Pamphlets, cinema slides and public announcements are being made so that morning walkers and those buying petrol are all made aware of this initiative of the GDA. Hoardings and banners have been displayed at 25 main crossings.

Two organising committees have been formed, one each in the trans-Hindon area and in the Ghaziabad city area.

The distribution of plants would occur between 5.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. in the parks; at all other distribution centres, saplings would be gifted to the general public between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m., the vice-chairman of the civic agency told reporters at a press conference.