Directorate of Information & Publicity 
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI
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- Delhi celebrates Van Mahotsav 2016
New Delhi:22/07/2016
The city-wide month long environment festival, Van Mahotsav, 2016 was celebrated by Government of NCT of Delhi at Bela Farm today in the august presence of Sh. Imran Hussain, Hon’ble Minister Environment &Forest and Sh. Kapil Mishra, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism. A plantation drive was carried out by the dignitaries along with school children, NCC scouts, Civil Defence volunteers, Eco Task Force and officials of the Department of Environment and Forest. Around 2000 saplings were planted at the site on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Imran Hussain, highlighted the efforts of the Government of NCT of Delhi through its Department of Environment and Forest in increasing the green cover of Delhi through massive plantations drives. He also highlighted the initiatives being undertaken by of the Department of Environment and Forest in association with the Department of Tourism to promote effective plantations in Delhi and many more such drives are being planned in the city.
Sh. Imran Hussain informed that Delhi Government has set a target of planting 10 lakh new trees and 5 lakh shrubs in the current financial year 2016-17. He added that the drive was being taken up in the month of July-August, since the climate is conducive for trees like neem, pilkhan, barh, jamun, amla, baherha, hingot, palash etc.
Plantation drives are being carried out in various parts of city/assembly constituencies from 15th July onwards on daily basis by concerned Hon’ble MLAs, RWAs etc. with the help of Delhi Park & Garden Society, Forest Department etc. This drive will continue for the next 3 weeks.
Sh. Imran Hussain also appreciated the efforts of various Hon’ble MLAs for launching tree plantation programmes in their areas. Efforts by Sh. Anil Bajpai, Hon’ble MLA, Gandhi Nagar; Sh. Raju Dhingan, Hon’ble MLA, Gandhi Nagar and Sh. Mohd. Ishraque, Hon’ble MLA, for plantation drives in their areas along with the local people were applauded by Sh. Hussain.
Sh. Kapil Mishra, Minister for Tourism emphasized upon the importance of trees and plants and mentioned that trees are a man’s best friend since they serve mankind in a variety of ways and provide us with all good things. The Hon’ble Minister also proposed a planation drive in Karawal Nagar area on Sunday
Bela Farm is situated near Shastri Park and is spread over an area of 32 ha. The Plantation is currently being done on 20ha as part of Compensatory Afforestation against diversion of forest land for the construction of Vinod Nagar Depot of DMRC. Around 34000 saplings will be planted during this monsoon season. The remaining area will be afforested against the tree felling permissions granted under The Delhi (Preservation) of Trees Act, 1994.
More than 3000 students participated in the celebration of Van Mahotsav. A Nukkad Natak by the students from Little Flower Public Sr. Sec School, Shahdara and Rukmini Devi Public School, Pitampura highlighting the present situation of the environmental conditions and the importance of trees in our life was highly applauded by the dignitaries and public present.
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