The capital woke up to the green cause long ago, but its implementation is still slow in gaining speed. A massive tree plantation drive in the city, which began on July 23 to achieve the national target of 33 per cent green cover by 2012, is a hit on the Web. With more than 16,000 members on its Facebook page, Delhiites tell us how a lot more is needed to promote the green cause in the capital, where a number of colonies don’t even have a hint of green patch.
Shikha Khanna, who owns a boutique in Janak Puri’s B1 pocket, says with the coming up of District Centre and other commercial plots in the neighbourhood, there are hardly any trees left in the locality. “There is not much greenery in the entire area. Garbage dumps lying open are the breeding ground of many diseases, and pollution has risen drastically. As I live very close to the Metro Station, there are hardly any plants close to my home,” says Shikha.
Moreover, as the Delhi Metro plans to start its third phase, the construction work for it is expected to kill around 11,500 trees on a 108-km stretch in the capital.
Shipra Yadav, a 21-year-old who started an initiative of planting saplings in areas around Rohini and New Friends Colony, talks about areas in West Delhi that are ignorant of the green cause. “In colonies like Pitampura there are barren patches where saplings can be planted. In the backlanes of Rohini there are many areas where buildings are being constructed, we’re planning to plant a few trees there too. Apart from that, parts of Inderlok and Rajouri Garden too require afforestation efforts,” says Shipra.
Many like her are doing their bit for the cause. And although Vasant Kunj is a green locality, its resident Rohit Gandhi, a consultant with the United Nations Environment Program, says he along with many others have worked on the two-and-half-acres of lush greenery for two years. “Lots of places need attention. You should try and go to these localities which were once lush green villages but have now turned into concrete monstrosities with no greenery whatsoever. All the villages in the Lal Dora land, Kishangarh, Zamrudpur and Masoodpur were once green,” he says.