Delhi environment dept to plant 10 lakh saplings this fiscal

The Delhi Environment Department aims to plant 10 lakh saplings in 2017-18, after falling short of last year's target by nearly two lakh.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain directed all the concerned agencies to plant the saplings across the city since pre-monsoon showers have set in and the current soil moisture level favours plantation drives.

Even last year, the target was 10 lakh. But eventually around 8.43 lakh saplings and 11.77 lakh shrub seedlings were planted, as per the city government's 2017-18 budget document.

The Union Ministry of Environment had fixed the target of tree plantation of 8.26 lakh for the current financial year, but Hussain has ordered it to be raised to 10 lakh, an official statement said.

"Department of Forests and Wildlife will be planting around four lakh saplings besides arranging free distribution of seedlings during the monsoon season.

"All the three MCDs are planting more than two lakh saplings. The DDA and Education Department are planting more than one lakh saplings in their areas and school premises respectively. Besides this, 17 more agencies are participating in tree plantation drive," it said.

The drive will begin on July 15 in various parts of the city.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)