Mega Plantation Drive – An initiative to make plains greener

Ms. Upasna Chopra, Head of Department of Science, and Mr. Pranjal Gupta, TGT Science, from Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, recently attended the mega plantation drive at Bella Farms, Yamuna Flood Plains. This was organised by the Department of Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Government of NCT of Delhi.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, and Mr. Gopal Rai, Minister of Environment, Forest and Wildlife, were the chief guests for the day.  

The welcome address was delivered by Mr. C.D Singh, Principal of Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Department. In his address, he emphasised, “Make the plains greener. One can look at October to March, which is the best time for the plantation to avoid flooding.”

Further, Mr. A.K. Singh, Principal Secretary of Environment and Forest, specified that through the plantation of the native plants such as Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Jacaranda, Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Dhak (Butea monosperma), Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Jamun (Syzygium cumini), etc. we can improve the Delhi’s greenspace and alleviate the present condition of the national capital as part of Green Action Plan 2023.

Following him, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal highlighted the increase of green cover despite the ongoing developmental projects. He further suggested that there has also been a reduction in PM10 pollutants in the air.

He also focused that these small victories shouldn’t distract us and NGOs. Eco club and community should continuously strive to make it better. The aim is to bring Delhi into the list of ten most-cleanest cities in the world.

In his concluding remarks, he said that air pollution will further be reduced by introduction of more electrical vehicles and electrical sucking machines to remove the scattered dust from roadsides which fly off during running traffic.

In the end, Mr. Kejriwal planted the first sapling to initiate the programme, which was followed by all the eco club incharges planting a sapling in the Yamuna Flood Plains, a beacon for a hopeful green start for Delhi in 2023.

While expressing her views on the visit, Ms. Upasna Chopra said, “Mega tree plantation drive at Bella Farms, Yamuna Flood Plains was a wonderful experience for me as an Incharge of the Eco-club of our school. Bella Farms is a very well-maintained area and a must-visit place for all nature lovers. Weather on that day was the icing on the cake! I also visited their nursery and bought seeds of many vegetables along with bio fertiliser and vermicompost fertiliser manure for the school’s kitchen garden. On the whole, it was a memorable experience.”