Ambitious Targets for Greening National Capital Region During 2023-24

Given the proud record of the NCR achieving 105.36% of the original targets set for plantation drive for the year 2022-23, now there is an enhanced targets, realizing which will involve educational institutions, including schools, colleges, research institutions, Central Agencies and industrial units towards greening drive for the year 2023-24

Working to increase the overall green cover of the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has held a series of consultations and review meetings to draw the roadmap and further finalize Greening/ Plantation Action Plan for the year 2023-24. After taking into account inputs provided by the NCR State Governments/ GNCTD, the target of plantation (including trees, shrubs, bamboo, etc.) for the year 2023-24 has been finalized as under:

Delhi – 95, 04,390

Haryana (NCR Districts) – 88,36,657

Rajasthan (NCR Districts) – 23,14,892

Uttar Pradesh (NCR Districts) – 1,52,35,058

Total – 3,58,90,997

Greening is one of the major steps for mitigation of air pollution and the Commission has been laying special emphasis on large-scale greening/ dense plantation/ urban foresting initiatives including the Miyawaki Technique across the entire NCR.

The implementation status of plantation activities to increase green cover for the year 2022-23 has been reviewed in the meetings held with the concerned NCR State Governments/ GNCTD. As estimated up to 31.03.2023 during the year 2022-23, the total target of planting 2,96,10,492 exceeded by 105.26 percent. The number reached the figure of 3,11,97,899.

Educational institutions including schools, colleges and research institutions in NCR have been involved during the current year to promote large-scale greening/ dense plantation initiatives in their surroundings.

These institutions have been advised to develop dense plantation barricades along the boundaries of their institutions. Industrial units as well as governmental organisations like the CRPF, BSF, CISF Northern Railways, have also been advised to develop dense plantation barricades along the boundaries of their industrial units or establishments.

The Commission has also taken up with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to have special budget provisions particularly for institutions in the NCR districts for increasing the green cover in view of the shortage of funds to conduct large-scale plantation drives and to carry out its maintenance.

Promoting greening as a long-term solution to combat air pollution in the region has been highlighted in the Commission’s Comprehensive Policy to Curb Air Pollution in the NCR. The strategies include:

– Expanding the net of “Nagar Van” and “Nagar Vatika”, wherever feasible, in urban agglomerations and cities in NCR, including adoption of Miyawaki technique for dense plantation in limited urban spaces.

– Mass plantation drives focusing on proper nurturing and better survival rate, prioritizing native species and protection of all categories of forest areas.

– Target oriented action plans for Greening/ paving of central verges and sidewalks along the entire road network.

While finalizing the Greening Action Plan, the need to focus greening along the central verges and roadsides has been stressed upon. The Commission has advised dense plantations using Miyawaki technique along the boundaries of the institutions/ industries and patches of land and gap filling between the conventional plantations along with post plantation care of the plants.

The progress of implementation of the Greening Action Plan will be monitored by the Commission on a regular basis.