Delhi is synonymous with wide roads and lush greenery. Reportedly Emperor Akbar ordered all roads to be lined with ‘Sheesham’ trees. The Imperial Capital Committee, decided to plant mainly evergreen trees in its new capital.
Delhi has some 42 types of ‘native’ trees. The commonest tree is the Mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora), called ‘Vilaiti or Angrezi Keekar’. It was introduced around 1915 from the Central Americas.
Emperor Shah Jahan offered special rent-free tenures to proprietors around Sadhaura Kalan, northwest of Mori Gate.
Today Jamun trees are found on Rajpath, India Gate and some Luyten’s avenues. Delhi’s numerous gardens, like the Mughal Gardens, Lodhi Gardens, Zoological Park, Buddha Jayanti Park, Delhi Golf Club, Nehru Park, etc boast of over 250 species of trees.
Population pressure has seen depletion in the green cover. Government initiatives including Bhagidari scheme and a revamped industrial policy countered the situation. The strategy was to:
• Motivate citizens to generate minimum waste
• Recycle horticulture waste.
• Minimising use of polythene bags.
• Panting trees.
• Celebrating festivals in an eco friendly manner.
• Educating citizens about re-use and recycling.
The situation has improved 2005 onwards.
According to the State of the Forest survey 2009 Delhi (8.29%) comes third behind Lakshwadeep (12.50%) and Chandigarh (9.65%) in the percentage of area under forest cover.
Delhi has a geographical area 1,483.01 sq km. Of this 123 sq km is under tree cover. Delhi’s tree cover has increased to 176.58 sq km till 2005. It rose by 16 sq km from 107 sq km to 123 sq km during the 2007-2009 periods mainly due to the government’s plantation drive.
The forest cover comprises 6.76 sq km very dense forest, 49.84 sq km moderately dense forest, and 119.98 sq km open forest.
New Delhi district is the greenest having the highest forest cover at 46.60 % of geographical area, followed by South Delhi (31.46 %) and South-West Delhi (10.08 %).
Asola-Bhatti is the only forest sanctuary in the capital spread over 1,991 hectares.
Greatest threats to the green cover are:
• Delhi ridge has seen shrinking in size due to mining and quarrying activities, especially in the south-central Ridge.
• At 1,615 units, Delhi has the highest per capita consumption of electricity in the country.
• Apart from the production levels of 785 MGD in 2009, the average shortfall in water is about 200 MGD (million gallons per day) but the percentage of unaccounted for water is 35-40 per cent, reflecting problems in management of resources.
• As against 8 private cars per 1,000 persons across India, Delhi has 85 even as the city has seen an exponential growth in the number of vehicles from 30.5 lakh in 1998-99 to 63.0 lakh in 2008-09.
Delhi introduces itself through nature and heritage walks along its lush greenery dotted with heritage sites and place of Delhi delicacies. Toshali Holidays arranges, to be with the nature “Walks in Green Delhi”. And customized your accommodation on demand. These walks reveal a side of the mega polis little known – a human side, a human face that needs all nurturing and care that we can afford – to preserve it for posterity.
To know more on the Toshali Holidays “Walks in Green Delhi”, post you comments or Contact our Delhi City Tour Planner at metu@toshali.in