Delhi plans more green cover for capital

NEW DELHI: Expanding the green cover in the vicinity of the national capital, the Delhi government has ambitious plans to develop nine new "forest cities" by next year.

Around 220 hectares of land belonging to east, northwest and southwest districts of the city have been identified under new forestation plan, environment secretary J K Dadoo says.

"As part of our CLEAN India campaign, we have planned to develop nine forest cities this year which will be in addition to the 23 existing cities in Delhi," Dadoo said.

The department, which claimed to have planted 1.8 million saplings during last year, have set the same target for this year too under its Community Led Environment Action Network (CLEAN) India campaign.

"The forest wealth of Delhi has increased considerably during the last two years. Having good monsoon this year after a long gap is a good sign amid fears of global warming," Dadoo says. "Total forest area in the capital has increased from 26 sq km in 1998 to 300 sq km in 2008," he adds.

The forest department, which developed nine "green cities" last year on the land given by the Revenue department wants to bring 33 per cent more area under the forest cover as envisaged in the National Forest Policy, the official claims.

"Besides involving 18 government agencies and some NGOs, the forest department also distributed 5 lakh saplings through 606 outlets last year," he says.