The
Department of Environment works towards improving the overall Environmental
Quality in Delhi.
Its primary activities include motivating citizens of Delhi to keep
surroundings clean and green, promoting an ethos of conservation
of water by minimizing the use of water and wastage of water and
motivating the citizens to imbibe habits and life styles supportive
of minimum waste generation, source separation of waste, disposing
off the waste at the nearest storage point. The ministry also promotes
measures to compost horticulture waste, to use it as manure for
kitchen gardens, nurseries, parks etc and create awareness among
public and sanitary workers to stop the indiscriminate burning of
waste/leaves that causes air pollution.
Realising its measure would not succeed without mass awareness,
it strives to sensitise citizens to environmental awareness and
conservation and educates them on the reuse of waste material by
promoting the concept of the three R's i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
It undertakes several campaigns urging non-disposal of waste in
public places as they choke drains and sewers. Being non-biodegradable
they cause water logging and provide breeding ground for mosquitoes.
It also encourages use of eco-friendly alternatives like jute, cloth
and recycled paper bags, etc. The ministry has organized several
tree plantation programmes in schools, residential areas, parks,
industrial areas etc. It pays special attention towards creating
awareness for celebrating festivals like Dussehera, Diwali, Holi
in an eco friendly manner. It also coordinates with the various
Departments/Agencies to combat climate change issues such as energy
conservation, water conservation by recycling of water, rain water
harvesting, green building concept, use of renewable energy, installation
of CFL, promotion of battery operated vehicle.
Among its various successes are making Delhi one of the greenest
capital Cities in the World by increasing its green cover of Delhi
30 sq.km to 300 sq. km in last 10 years. Delhi's green cover is
20% of the its Delhi's geographical area. Around 5000 acres of denuded
mine land have been greened with the plantation of seven lakh trees,
enlisting the help of Eco-Task Force, a unit of the Territorial
Army.
Around 14 existing city forests have been densified, 9 new city
forests have been created in the year 2007-08 and 9 more new city
forest will be added during the year 2008-09. Two Biodiversity parks
namely Yamuna Bio-Diversity Park and Aravali Bio-diversity Park
are being developed. Among other measures to conserve natural resources,
it has made it for plots having minimum area of 100 sq. meters to
install the Rainwater Harvesting Structures in their premises and
made the use of solar water heating system mandatory in the buildings
like industries, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, etc. having an
area of 500 sq.m, educational colleges, hostels, technical or vocational
colleges etc. The ministry is headed on the path of sustainable
development measures for the benefit of all.
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