Delhi planted over 30 lakh saplings ahead of G20 summit: Environment Minister Gopal Rai

New Delhi [India], August 30 (ANI): Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the city government has completed 69 per cent of its work of planting trees this year, ahead of the G20 summit next month. Gopal Rai said that a total of 30,20,356 saplings were planted by 21 departments ahead of the crucial summit in September. 
"We are delighted to inform you that different departments undertook the work of planting trees on a war footing. In the last two months, through Van Mahotsav, we increased public awareness. 69 per cent of the target has been fulfilled ahead of the G20 summit...These 21 departments have planted 30,20,356 saplings across various places in the city," the Environment Minister said ahead of the G20 summit.
The Delhi government undertook a mission to plant 52 lakh saplings this year, Gopal Rai said adding that they fixed the benchmark to complete 50 per cent of the work ahead of the G20 summit.
"Before G20 and after G20, to increase Delhi's green belt, the Delhi government in coordination with 21 departments decided to plant 52 lakh plants the year. As part of the Summer Action Plan, we decided to complete 50 per cent of the work of planting trees ahead of the G20 summit," Gopal Rai said.
Listing out the departments involved in this plantation drive, the Delhi Minister said, "They include the Forest Department, DDA, MCD, NDMC, PWD, Education Department, Higher Education, NTPC, DSIDC, Delhi Jal Board, BSES Rajdhani, CPWD, Northern Railway, DUSIB, Delhi Crime, NTPL, NHAI, DMRC, Irrigation Flood Control, Department of Environment and DTC."
Gopal Rai also mentioned that the remaining 30 per cent of the work will be done under the Winter Action Plan after the G20 summit.
The national capital has planted 1 crore 18 lakh saplings in the last three years, he said adding that they are reaching their target of increasing the green belt in the city.
"In the last three years, we have planted 1 crore 18 lakh saplings. If we add 30,20,356 saplings that were planted now, it will stand at a total of 1.5 crore saplings planted. We are reaching our goal of increasing the green belt in Delhi in 5 years," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal decided to transform the mission of planting trees into a mass program by including various departments, Gopal Rai said.
"Earlier we used to focus on forest land. This time the Chief Minister made the mission into a mass program by including the departments. Hence we arranged Van Mahotsavs in every department where we distributed plants and also bags to collect plastic waste," he said.
The national capital will also be decorated with flower pots ahead of the G20 summit, Gopal Rai said adding that a team of 300 personnel have been appointed for its maintenance.
"In addition to this, ahead of the G20 summit, we have a target of preparing 2.5 lakh target pots. Around 1.80 lakh have been planted. From 1 to 7 September, we will plant the flower pots. For maintenance, a team of 300 personnel have been appointed to look after these pots during the G20 summit. We would like the people of Delhi to conserve these pots and look after their maintenance as well," the Environment Minister said.
The G20 summit will be held in Delhi on September 9 and 10. India assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1 last year. 
G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. It was upgraded to the level of Heads of State or Government in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis of 2007, and, in 2009, was designated the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”. The G20 nations represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. (ANI)