Over six lakh trees will have to be planted in Delhi in the next month if the city is to achieve its target for greening this financial year. So far, the agencies responsible have planted less than 60 per cent of the 13 lakh trees supposed to be planted in 2015-2016.
According to the Delhi government’s Environment and Forest Department, a total of 13,18,119 trees were supposed to be planted this fiscal year. Up to December 2015, the different land-owning agencies had planted 6,85,442 trees, or just 52 per cent of the target. Since then the number has gone up, but officials say it would be about 60 per cent of the target.
“We should be able to meet the target of 13 lakh by the end of the financial year. We have initiated a tree census as well, which will help us know the present situation and evolve strategies to address gaps,” said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary (Environment and Forest Department).
Depending on the type of soil and moisture levels, 60 to 80 per cent of the trees planted survive. Among the top achievers when it comes to plantation is the New Delhi Municipal Council, which had planted 16,113 trees as of December 2015 against the target of 2,319. The Forest Department itself has planted 2.37 lakh trees against its target of 4.32 lakh. The Delhi Development Authority had planted 1.5 lakh trees till December 2015, while its target is 2 lakh. The three municipal corporations of Delhi had planted 1.58 lakh trees against the target of 1.9 lakh trees.
In one aspect the government has gone over its target, by distributing 6.69 lakh free seedlings as against the planned 5 lakh.
In public and forest lands, the goal was to cover 2,089 hectares under plantation. Till December 2015, as many as 1,054.39 hectares had been covered.
Till December 2015, 6,85,442 trees were planted, which is just 52 per cent of the target
