Delhi environment minister bats for taking up vertical gardening to reduce pollution

The Delhi government has urged different agencies to take up vertical gardening in a big way for reducing pollution in the national capital.

The environment and forest minister of the Delhi government, Imran Hussain, today wrote letters to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), PWD and also the municipal corporations in the national capital pointing out its efforts to increase green cover in the city.

"Green cover can also be enhanced by undertaking vertical gardening activities on buildings, flyovers, spaces and columns underneath the flyovers. This will help in neutralising air pollution due to dust and vehicular pollution," Hussain wrote in his letter.

In his letters to DDA vice chairperson, mayors of the three municipal corporations and the PWD minister, Hussain urged them to direct agencies and departments under their ambit to undertake vertical plantation in a big way across Delhi.

Vertical gardening involves growing plants on vertical surfaces of urban structures like flyover columns and buildings with an integrated water irrigation system.

Last week, Lt Governor Anil Baijal, in a meeting, had directed the municipal corporations and the DDA to come up with vertical gardens on flyovers and irrigate them with non-potable water only.

He had also stressed on developing green parks on vacant gram sabha lands, to achieve the goal of 'Green Delhi'.