Green Leap Delhi: CM Sheila Dikshit Urges Citizens to Plant Million Trees This Monsoon

CM Shiela Dixit at the Plant a Million trees Campaign

The Department of Environment (DoE), Govt. of NCT of Delhi is encouraging and inviting citizens of Delhi to come out and plant as many trees as possible during the ongoing monsoon season. Led by none other than Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit, the campaign is using an interactive online blogging platform to reach out to citizens and inspire them to green the capital city. Delhi Greens participated in the tree plantation activity adjacent to Rajghat with Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit last week as part of the Green Leap Delhi campaign of the DoE.  The event was joined by large number of students, teachers and citizens from all walks of life. The Chief Minister urged everyone present to take a pledge to plant trees and add to the greens of Delhi city.

Million TreesThe ambitious “Green Leap Delhi” drive to plant 1 million saplings during this monsoon season is supported by several agencies within the Delhi Government, RWAs, corporate houses, NGOs, and active citizens. In playing the crucial role of providing free saplings to citizens and other interested agenices, the DoE has made public a list of free sapling collection centers across the city. The list includes names and full contact details of the nominated individuals, offices and centers from where the saplings can be collected. The list can be accessed by clicking here. The campaign also lists tentative sites that have been earmarked for large scale plantations. The campaign website shares a list of plant species that can be chosen for carrying out the plantation. The focus of the list however remains ornamental and and it includes considerable non-native plants as well.

For those citizens who have only recently begun taking interest in planting trees, as well as those who wish to learn more about it, the DoE has published an inspirational booklet entitled “How to Plant a Tree”. A Book on City Plantations 2011 has also been published and can be downloaded by clicking here. The 17 pages Book contains details about the number and types of trees being planted, places from where saplings can be collected for free and other information about the campaign.

Since the information has been made public through the use of social media, large number of people have been able to access it in a meaningful manner. More and more people are joining in the plantation drives taking place in the city lately and the campaign response is certainly not limited to online activities alone. Citizens have actually been using the contact numbers listed on the website and are also giving their feedback on what worked and what didn’t. The campaign is also running a contest where people are asked to give a reason as to why they want to plant a tree. The best three answers stand to win a grand prize, while all of us will not only get to learn great reasons for planting trees but will also be motivated to do so. The campaign surely is a win-win for all! Delhi Greens encourages all its readers to join in and plant and nurture as many saplings as you can during this monsoon 2011! Happy Greening!!

 

Aastha Kukreti

Aastha Kukreti holds a Master’s degree in Environment Management and her areas of expertise range from waste management, pollution ecology, green audits, ecofeminism, environmental equity and social justice.

18 thoughts on “Green Leap Delhi: CM Sheila Dikshit Urges Citizens to Plant Million Trees This Monsoon

  1. I live in Uttam Nagar , West delhi, there are very less trees in road sides & bindapur matiyala road due to which there is huge pollution in that area. I would like to kind attention delhi govt towards tree plantation in Uttam Nagar area.

    Thanking you,

  2. sale free sappling ke naam pr peeple ke plants baat rahe hai….pata nhi records me kya dikhaya hoga?

  3. Does one need permission to plant a tree outside his house on the side walk? Is it illegal to dig a small hole on the roadside outside one’s house to plant a tree and place a 2 feet dia gaurd mesh round it to protect it from stray animals?

  4. All those details written on the steps taken by delhi govt. to plant new trees or prevent tree cutting seems to be eyewash. If anybody want to see how delhi govt planned to cut off 63 well groomed trees , they should come to shalimar park near DCP east office, shahdara. It was clear case of unprofessional attitude of govt staff which going to lead to death of those beautiful tree.

  5. We want plantation in our locality Himmap puri, from we can get free plant specially of flower like gulmohor. Politician are ignoring us.

  6. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PRESERVE AND TO DO SOME THING FOR NATURE AND OUR ECONOMY. I M WILLING TO HELP WHERE CAN I FIND UR CAMP IN DELHI ( EAST ) TO GET THESE PLANTS..
    PLZ SEND ME DETAILS
    THNKS
    SUMIT

  7. I want at least 70-80 small tree(haze) for planting in my compound for use as boudnary wall. Anybody can direct me where to get the best sapling. URGENT.

  8. Thanks!

    @jyotika Kalra: Do make sure you send across images of tree plantation to blog(at)delhigreens.org
    @ Neha Bharuka: Till the rains pour down this monsoon.

  9. our NGO saksham Bharti is planting trees tommorow at Raghuvir Nagar/ shivaji enclave i.e. 31 july 2011, at 8.30 in the mornning can some person from Govt and horticulture departmenr come to attend the same

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Views: 17,158