12,000 saplings planted in NDMC's green drive

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) today started a major plantation and cleanliness drive to expand the green cover in areas under its jurisdiction.
Minister of State Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling of Amaltass on Kasturba Gandhi Marg while New Delhi MP and member of NDMC, Meenakshi Lekhi planted a sapling of Maulshri at Central Park in Connaught Place.
"Over 12,000 saplings were planted during the drive today. This drive will expand the entire areas green cover," NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar said.
"The drive will take advantage of current rainy season and it is expected that this drive will improve overall environment of NDMC area besides giving impetus to cleanliness," he added.

Vice President Hamid Ansari's wife Salma Ansari also planted a sapling of Maulshri at Charak Palika Hospital, Moti Bagh.
"Children from NDMC schools took out rallies to create awareness about cleanliness and also urged the public to plant trees to protect environment. Nukkad Nataks were also organised to create awareness about Swachhta Abhiyan on this occasion," NDMC spokesperson Jagjivan Bakshi said.

"To make the programme a success, the entire NDMC area was divided into 14 zones and sufficient manpower deployed under a senior officer," he added.
All gardens and parks as well as roads and colonies in the NDMC area were part of the campaign.

Around 40 varieties of trees and saplings that were planted today included Molshree, Ficus Bush King, Cycus Palm, Ficus Panda, Chandini, Neem, Jamun, Kusum, Ashok, Lijastonia Thoroly, Alistonia Botal Brush, Putranjiva, Balki and Amaltash among others.
"Apart from this, NDMC is planning to plant 25,000 saplings per year on an average in future against 10,000 saplings planted during the past years," the spokesman added.