On World Environment Day, Ministry of Environment, Government of Delhi has started Mega Plantation Drive of medicinal plants. Along with this, the Delhi government will also organize a mega tree plantation campaign/Van Mahotsav from June 26 to July 11, under which over 33 lakh saplings will be planted across the city across Delhi.
All cabinet ministers of Delhi, Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly, MLAs, NGOs and RWAs will participate in this mega plantation drive. On World Environment Day, Environment Minister of Delhi Government Gopal Rai said that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government has waged a war against air pollution. The government has taken several steps to tackle air pollution in Delhi, such as introducing tree transplantation policy, anti dust campaign, electric vehicle policy, red light on car off and stubble burning solution using bio decomposer.
Gopal Rai said that there are many other factors causing air pollution of North India including Delhi. There are about 10 thermal power plants in NCR which are one of the major contributors to this pollution. The Delhi government has moved the Supreme Court against this.
Gopal Rai said that along with all these steps taken by us, more steps should be taken to develop a better environment in Delhi. On the occasion of World Environment Day, we have started a mega plantation drive of medicinal plants. Delhi government has 14 nurseries across the city and from Monday anyone can visit our nursery and get medicinal plants for free.
We have also published a brochure which has all the necessary information about these medicinal plants. The medicinal plants available in Delhi Government Nursery include Amla, Guava, Arjun, Jamun, Neem, Tulsi etc. There is a coordinator for each nursery whose phone numbers will be shared.
The mega tree plantation drive will be carried out by several different departments and agencies of the Delhi government along with environment department, DDA, MCD, PWD, BSES and others. On June 9, we will hold a virtual meeting with all these agencies and the entire plan will be finalised. The name of this campaign has been named “Ek Plant Zindagi Ke Naam”.
I will also appeal to all the citizens of Delhi to plant a sapling on the occasion of birthday or anniversary. The Delhi government, along with the citizens of Delhi, will run this campaign as a mass movement and make it a success.