LG directs third-party audit on survival of planted saplings in Delhi

New Delhi: Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Friday issued direction for a third-party audit of the saplings planted in the national capital to check their survival. Baijal asked all the agencies concerned to complete the plantation drive by September and ensure planting of more native and fruit-bearing species wherever feasible. 

The directives were issued at a meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor. It was attended by Environment Minister Imran Hussain and senior officers of all greening agencies and departments concerned. 

In the meeting, Baijal was apprised that the proposed target of tree and shrub saplings for all greening agencies in the city for 2018-19 were about 28 lakh (major heads were DDA- 10 lakh, forest Department- 4.25 lakh, PWD- 2.75 lakh, Education Department-1.25 lakh approx). 

According to a statement issued by the L-G Office, Baijal advised laying down uniform norms for the type of plantation that would be suitable for Delhi so that all agencies could follow the same. 

"Finally, the L-G directed that a test audit of the plantations be done by a third-party so as to check the survival of the saplings already planted," it said. 

It stated that the L-G directed that a massive information, education and communication (IEC) campaign be initiated within next 15 days by all greening agencies, involving schools, RWAs, citizen groups among others. 

This campaign should particularly focus on post plantation care such as watering, weeding and maintenance, protection, it also stated.