Delhi residents will soon get a chance to take part directly in tree plantation drives as the Delhi government plans to open this year’s Van Mahotsav celebrations to the public. Starting next month, people will be able to register online and plant saplings in their own neighbourhoods through a dedicated portal being developed by the forest department.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the new portal is expected to be launched by the end of June. It will provide ward-wise details of plantation sites across the city, making it easier for residents to find the nearest location and sign up for plantation activities. Government officials and forest department staff will assist participants during the drives.
Delhi govt to launch plantation drive info portal to push public participation
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“We will celebrate Van Mahotsav on a large scale and invite residents to participate actively. The forest department is likely to launch a new portal through which people can register to plant a tree,” Sirsa said.
The Delhi government has set an ambitious target of planting 70 lakh saplings this year. Out of these, around 15 lakh saplings will be planted in the city’s reserved forest areas. Officials said several meetings have already been held with different land-owning agencies, including the forest department, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the irrigation and flood control department, and the education department, to identify suitable locations for plantation. Preparatory work, including digging pits for saplings, has already started.
According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, Delhi currently has a green cover of 371.3 square kilometres, which accounts for nearly 25% of the city’s total geographical area of 1,483 square kilometres.
To encourage wider public participation, the forest department is also planning to introduce “Vriksh Rath” during the monsoon season. These mobile plantation units will distribute free saplings and provide all necessary materials for plantation drives. A tender has already been issued for the purchase of 13 vehicles, one for each district of Delhi. The vehicles will carry saplings, manure, water and other equipment, while horticulture staff travelling with them will help residents carry out plantation activities.
