New Delhi: In a bid to combat air pollution in Delhi, the public works department (PWD) has taken up the charge of tackling the suspended dust particles on city roads that make the air quality poor. Under this initiative, the PWD will densify greenery along the roads managed by the department and plant more than 3000 saplings by the end of June together with reviving the dying plants, and cleaning up the roads, to keep the soil intact.
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While talking to NDTV about the new venture, Jaswant Singh, Deputy Director, Horticulture wing, PWD said,
The main aim of the project is to control dust particles as the plants and the grass will not leave dry and open space for dust to fly. Dust adds to the air pollution in the capital caused due to vehicular emissions, garbage burning, stubble burning, and other sources. Delhi government has been concerned about this issue and every month we conduct a departmental meeting to check on the status and derive new ideas in order to mitigate dust pollution. As part of Delhi Government’s Green Budget initiative, announced by the Delhi Government last year, we have planned to densify greenery on both sides of PWD’s roads and dividers.
As per Mr. Singh, who has been tasked to implement the project on PWD’s roads in North Delhi, the roads which are wider than 100 feet will be covered under this project and more than 3000 saplings will be planted on these roads by the end of June. The department will be planting ornamental and seasonal flowering plants, creepers, shrubs and grass to give a pleasant look to the city roads while also keeping soil intact and thus curbing dust pollution. He said,
We are currently preparing saplings and the plantation sites and will begin plantation soon after the first monsoon rain. As the rainfall will remove the heat from the soil and will make its deeper layers soft which will make it healthy and ready for plantation.
Around two months ago, the PWD began a drive to check on the condition of existing plants/ trees on the central and side verges of 1,260 kilometer of roads managed by it, with an aim to keep those alive during the scorching summers.
Mr. Singh signed off saying that other than horticulture work, the project also includes pedestrian lighting, beautification, and cleaning. The department is also beautifying other open spaces such as small parks or patches of lands along the roads.
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