New Delhi: As part of the Uttar Pradesh government’s ambitious plan to plant nine crore saplings on August 15, 2018, over one lakh (1,04,918) saplings were planted in Noida on Independence Day. The plantation drive which began at 9 in the morning continued till 7 in the evening and in between witnessed huge public participation from people from all walks of life. With this plantation drive, the city in Uttar Pradesh surpassed its own target of planting over 86,000 (86,725) saplings in a day.
Elated Rajeev Tyagi, General Manager, Noida Authority told PTI,
In the 42 years since Noida’s formation, no plantation drive of this scale has ever taken place. Our annual plantation target is over four lakh. Today we have achieved 23 per cent of it.
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From jamun, imli (tamarind), bel, neem, ashok, peepal, jacaranda , to erica palm, land lily, numerous varieties of trees were planted, with a motive to increase green cover in the state and reduce air pollution. Talking about the same, Mr. Rajeev told PTI,
The plant species we selected are beneficial from the environmental point of view. Besides, the branches of these plant species have relatively longer life, which means human and wildlife can enjoy their fruits, flowers, herbs, and shade for a longer period of time.
The plantation drive was carried in different sectors namely – 15, 22, 27, 44, 56, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 72, 74, 77, 112, 115, 120, 121, 122, 123, 137, 144, 145, 150, 151, 156, 166, 167 and along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. In all these places, saplings were planted in parks, along the roads, and metro rail corridors.
To ensure that the planted saplings sustain, contractors for the project have been given responsibility to take care of the saplings for the next two years. In case a plant dies, contractor will do replantation.
This is not the first time that Noida has taken steps to reduce plantation and green cover. Recently, Noida Authority initiated vertical gardening – a process of planting trees on pillars and walls, without using any horizontal space. The authority has already come up with vertical gardens at its office in Noida Sector 6. By the end of August, the authority plans to give a green makeover to all the 18 metro pillars in sector 15, 16 and 18. Once the pillars have been given green makeover, the authority plans to cover city drains and flyovers.
Vertical gardens will act as view cutter, help cut down pollution, purify air, and oxygen is obvious, Mr. Rajeev told PTI.
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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.
With inputs from PTI
