Page 31 - e-Budget Speech - Final

New Delhi Municipal Council | Budget 2019 – 20
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4. RESOURCE CONSERVATION

4.1 Human activity is increasing at a pace that has never been seen in history,
receiving a faster rate of population growth, urbanization and economic
development which is putting tremendous adverse pressure on the
environment. Today Delhi is facing problem of air pollution. Fresh air not
only saves us from respiratory and cardiac diseases, it is also proven that it
improves our cognitive powers. Fresh air helps us think better and become
smarter. Most importantly, it helps us raise healthy children who are the future
of this world. Therefore, NDMC gives special effort in developing and
monitoring green spaces.

4.2 New Delhi area is recognized for its greenery, which not only creates
island of soothing effect but also controls the impact of air pollution.

4.3 To extend the green coverage in NDMC area, intensive plantation drives
have been undertaken during the past three years alongwith stakeholders,
wherein around 7.5 lakh saplings were planted in the year 2016-17, around 10
lakh saplings in the year 2017-18 and around 20 lakh saplings, including
around 38500 tree saplings, in the year 2018-19.

4.4 To keep this plantation drive ongoing and to increase the green ground
coverage, this year I propose to undertake plantation of around 40 lakh
saplings, to further control the air pollution, especially the dust in the
environment.

4.5 Conservation, Protection and Development of Avenue Trees

4.5.1 To preserve the green heritage and retaining the alignment of trees in
the avenues and to manage the challenges of poor health status, biotic, abiotic,
ageing, stress of old heritage trees, NDMC requested the DDA to provide land
in the vicinity of river Yamuna to develop it as a tree bank wherein plantation
/ development of semi grown or big grown trees may be undertaken or fallen
tree trunk may be rejuvenated or reinvigorated in ex situ manner for restoring
the trees. The proposal is for developing semi or big size trees to replace
immediately wherever gaps emerging in NDMC area. I am happy to announce
that DDA agreed to the request of the NDMC and allowed an area of around
25 acres near River Yamuna. It is proposed to develop the said area into a

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