Amidst growing concerns over pollution enveloping the entire city, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is initiating a plantation drive across its 104 wards. The newly-elected standing committee chairman Shailendra Singh announced that saplings that help in reducing pollution levels will be planted across its areas of jurisdiction.

Singh also added that at present, ornamental plants are planted in their parks but they will be replaced by plants which helps in controlling the rising levels of pollution. There are around 6,500 parks under the jurisdiction of South Corporation.

“We will initiate a plantation drive across our 104 wards in a bid to control the rising level of pollution and the use of ornamental plants in our parks will be discouraged and they will be replaced by plants or trees that helps in bringing down the pollution levels,” said Singh.

Singh further added that the rising level of pollution is a serious concern and everyone must contribute to bring it down. Residents and market associations should participate and plant more trees.

“The aim for the current fiscal year is to ensure we help in some or the other way to control pollution. RWAs and market associations should also come forward and participate in the plantation drive,” added Singh.

As per the South Corporation proposal, Neem, Peepal and other similar trees will now be planted in colonies and inside parks. The drive is expected to start with the onset of monsoon in the capital.

 
“We will launch the drive probably in another few weeks before the onset of monsoon as that is the favourable time for these trees to grow and horticulture department will ensure that these trees don’t die and they are well maintained. I will be monitoring it myself. We will check whether our nurseries have so many saplings or we need to procure more and based on this we will decide about the launch of the drive,” added Singh.