NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai today launched a 15-day mega plantation drive to further enhance the green cover in New Delhi.  The minister said, the 'Van Mahotsav', which started from the Central Ridge, will culminate with the plantation of one lakh saplings at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary on July 25.

This year, around 35 lakh shrubs and saplings will be planted in Delhi.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Speaker of the Delhi Assembly Ram Niwas Goel, and other ministers will take part in the "Van Mahotsav." On Monday, Delhi assembly MPOs and MLAs will take the initiative in their individual districts.

The Delhi government was assigned a goal by the Center to plant 28 lakh trees in 2021–2022. In the end, the city planted 35 lakh seedlings.

Notably, in the last two years, Delhi's green cover expanded from 21.88 to 23.06 percent of its geographic area, According to the Forest Survey of India's latest report.

In line with the steps the Kejriwal government has made, Delhi's green cover has significantly increased. Approximately 20% of Delhi's total land was green in 2013, but thanks to our initiatives, that percentage rose to 23.06 percent in 2021. Also, Delhi now has more forest cover per person than any other city in the nation, said the minister.

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Good news for Delhiites, will soon get relief from the sultry heat