Delhi’s green cover to be raised to 25% in coming years, says Kejriwal

New Delhi, July 22

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the city’s green cover has to be increased from the existing 23 per cent to 25 per cent in the coming years to make the national capital world’s greenest and cleanest city.

Kejriwal attended a ‘van mahotsav’ where Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena was the chief guest. He said this year, more than 1 crore saplings would be planted across the city, adding that 27.5 lakh saplings have already been planted.

Saxena said the Chief Minister’s observations need to be implemented and the green cover of the city be enhanced from 23 per cent to 25 per cent in the next two years.

The L-G said he has asked for planting of saplings at police stations and other premises of Delhi Police to increase the green cover of the city.

A bonhomie was visible between Saxena and Kejriwal, the two constitutional figures at loggerheads over governance-related issues in Delhi.

“I am very happy that the honourable Chief Minister is present among us in this programme,” Saxena said in his address.

Kejriwal returned the pleasantries in a tweet addressed to the L-G, “It was great participating in Van Mahotsav with u Sir. Delhi plants 5.5 lakh trees today with our target of more than 1 cr trees/shrubs this year. Together, all of us will achieve that target.”

Last year’s Van Mahotsav programme at Asola Bhati Mines sanctuary was marred with controversy over the poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the programme venue.

The programme, held in July last year, was not attended by Kejriwal and his party had accused the Centre and the L-G of ‘hijacking’ the event organised by the Delhi Government’s Forest Department.

At 23 per cent, Delhi’s green cover is higher than cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru as well as London and New York, the Chief Minister said.

“This is a matter of happiness and encouragement for us. But we cannot sit idle and it should be increased further. After one to two years, it should be up to 25 per cent and further 27 per cent,” he said.

Kejriwal cautioned that if we sit idle and are satisfied with the 23 per cent green cover, it will reduce to 21 per cent and further to 19 per cent. “We cannot let it (Delhi’s green cover) reduce. We need to increase it,” he said.

The Chief Minister also observed that world over, expansion of cities has impacted their respective green covers, but despite fast growth in Delhi, its green cover has increased.

He also mentioned the air pollution problem of the city, saying the air quality has improved since 2015 with more clean air days now.

“Since 2015 to present year, pollution in Delhi has declined by 30 per cent and the ‘clean air days’ numbers have gone up to 163 days this year,” he said.