600 locations identified for Saturday's mega plantation drive

About 600 locations have been identified across Delhi where the mega plantation drive would take place this Saturday under which about five lakh trees would be planted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch the drive, touted as the biggest ever in the city. Citizens will plant five lakh trees and shrubs at 600 locations spread across the national capital.

The unprecedented drive aims to effectively enhance the green cover of Delhi which will have a long-lasting effect on air pollution control, according to an official statement.

More than 1.25 lakh school children will also participate in the plantation drive on Saturday, during which the participants will be made aware of the harmful effects of air pollution and the importance of greening in countering this growing menace, the statement said.

The aim of planting more than five lakh saplings in a day is unprecedented in Delhi as not more than 50,000 saplings in a day have ever been planted in the city in the past.

Environment and Forests Minister Mr Imran Hussain reviewed the preparation for the mega plantation drive with senior officials of various departments and greening agencies on Wednesday, the statement said.

During the meeting, the greening agencies expressed their resolve to meet the plantation targets pledged by them. They have already communicated the details of sites and locations where the plantation will be carried out.

Officers of the Forest Department informed the minister that details of around 600 sites/locations spread all over Delhi have been uploaded on the website of the Forest Department.

A toll-free helpline 1800118600 has already started functioning for facilitating the general public to know the location as per their convenience for participation in plantation drive on Saturday.

During the meeting, the minister again urged the green agencies to make adequate arrangements for availability of saplings, proper sitting, light refreshment and drinking water etc. for the convenience of participants.

It was also emphasized that greening agencies should not only carry out plantation but also ensure high survival rate for effectively making the plantation drive successful.

Hussain has also asked agencies to make necessary arrangements for independent audit so as to monitor survival rate of plantation.

It was also directed that feasibility of procuring machines for geo-tagging of plantation be explored at the earliest so as to trace and keep track of the survival of plants.