Delhi government’s tree plantation drive falls short of target
New Delhi: The annual tree plantation drive of the Delhi government is poor in 2024. Earlier, it was aimed at improving the air quality of the national capital before the fall of winter. Therefore, most departments were given the target to plant new seedlings and increase greenery so that air quality could remain better. Most departments did not care, and some worked but failed to fulfill the set target.
The goal was to plant at least 64 lakh saplings in the national capital. However, many Delhi government departments showed little interest, and even no significant efforts were made to spread greenery in Delhi by the central government as well, said by a forest official.
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The Delhi government’s Environment and Forest Department failed to meet its target of planting 1,800 saplings. Surprisingly, the environment department did not plant even a single plant. A report presented by senior official Cheshta Singh highlighted that several departments were given targets but failed to meet them.
Despite the overall lack of progress, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did relatively well, planting 3,63,595 saplings, achieving 58% of its target. The Forest Department of Delhi managed to plant only 39% of its target, which is considered quite low. Even Delhi Metro did not participate actively in the plantation drive.
On the other hand, Northern Railways, which operates under the central government, had a target of planting 24,000 saplings but did not show any interest. The report calls for greater commitment and effort from all departments to meet the plantation targets and contribute to improving the city’s air quality.
