DDA refutes Govt’s charges of going slow on plantation drive

Refuting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) allegation on DDA for not participating in massive plantation drive - a project of Delhi Government to escalate green cover, the land owning agency on Wednesday clarified that  in May-June 2018, DDA planned its target and timelines for planting 1 million trees of indigenous species in its parks, green belts, roadsides and Biodiversity Parks during 2018 planting season. 

This target was approved by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal, Delhi and being regularly reviewed by L-G and Minister  of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.”DDA conducted Van Mahotsav in Dwarka on 5.8.2018 which was inaugurated byUnion Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and presided by LG, and on in this month DDA planted 20000 trees throughout Delhi”,a DDA official said.

On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that DDA is not participating Delhi government's review meetings on making Delhi more green.

“DDA commenced its planting operation from July 2018 and likely to complete its target by September, 2018 and has involved schools, colleges, RWAs and NGOs in this large scale planting drive of DDA,a dding, “ the agency has supplied plants to various schools for planting in their compounds,” DDA official said.

During last one month DDA has handed over 109 hac. land in Yamuna flood plains to Forest Department of Government of National Capiyal Territory  of Delhi(GNCTD) for compensatory afforestation. 

It is expected to plant 1.10 lakhs saplings on this land.

DDA is committed to plant 5000 trees on its land at various locations in Delhi on Van Mahotsav day being celebrated by Govt. of  NCT of Delhi during September 2018.