Delhi LG reviews status of afforestation in national capital, gives instructions about future course of action

New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena held a detailed review of the status of afforestation and greening of spaces on Thursday. While reviewing the work done in the last two years, he also issued instructions to officials about the future course of action, according to a statement from the LG's Secretariat on Thursday.
It came up during the meeting that during the last two years, 48 lakh trees and shrubs were planted across Delhi during 2022-23, the number rose up exponentially to 89 lakhs during 2023-24. Of these, the figures for DDA alone stood at 14.61 lac trees during the same period, added the statement.
The same stands at 67 lakhs during the current year, despite paucity of land in the Capital.
However, LG directed to explore all possible ways further, including the creation of layered plantations, Miyawaki forests and aquatic forests in the Capital to increase the green assets, as mentioned in the statement.
More than 9 lakh trees of these were planted under Shri Saxena's direct supervision. These include 5.50 lakh trees at Asola Bhati Mines in July 2023, a lakh each by MCD and DDA in their specific plantation drives in the parks under their jurisdiction.
Apart from this, 83,500 bamboos and flowering trees were planted at Garhi Mandu and about 20,000 trees that include bamboo, were planted along roadside in the run up to G-20 Summit.
Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party attacked Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena over the "illegal" cutting of around 1100 trees in the eco-sensitive Ridge of the Satbari area alleging that the trees were cut on his orders.
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said that while the Delhi government is working to curb pollution in the national capital, the LG "has been caught" cutting the trees and "lying" in the court. (ANI)