New Delhi, The Delhi government will involve religious institutions in a drive to plant over 70 lakh saplings across the city to boost green cover and tackle air pollution, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday.
The government will encourage plantations at temples, mosques, gurudwaras, churches and other religious places, officials said.
Chairing a meeting with representatives of religious institutions, officials from the Forest and Environment Department and civic bodies, Sirsa outlined the roadmap for the campaign, which will be implemented through 22 government departments.
“Religious institutions have always been the backbone of our cultural and moral fabric. If we come together to plant trees within these spaces, we can transform Delhi’s environment while spreading awareness at the grassroots level,” he said.
Under the plan, the Forest Department and horticulture wings of civic agencies, including MCD, NDMC and DDA, will provide saplings free of cost.
Institutions have been asked to identify available space and share their requirements, including preferred species and the number of plants.
“We aim to maximise plantation in spaces where people gather and connect with nature. When trees grow in these spaces, they not only improve air quality but also reinforce our traditional respect for nature,” the minister said.
Officials said the campaign builds on plantation drives carried out during last year’s Van Mahotsav.
They said to ensure transparency, a monitoring mechanism will be put in place, with plantation data and photographs to be uploaded on an official portal.
Sirsa said, “This is not just a government programme; it is a people’s movement. Whether you plant one tree or one lakh trees, every effort counts.”
Officials added that the drive will be carried out in phases, with a major push planned during the monsoon season to ensure saplings survive better.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
