Tea vendor kicks off plantation drive; Somnath Bharti fills in for Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, who skipped the cycle rally
Delhi observed its fifth car-free day here on Monday, on the sidelines of which a local tea vendor was invited to inaugurate a citywide tree plantation drive. The AamAadmi Party (AAP) government will undertake the tree plantation drive in phases.
Observed on the stretch between Munirka bus stand and Hyatt hotel T-point in south Delhi between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was scheduled to lead the cycle rally on the route, and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was to cycle beside him, skipped the event.
AAP Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti stepped in for both Mr. Kejriwal and Mr. Sisodia, along with Transport Minister Gopal Rai as the Environment Department distributed saplings and plants to commuters.
Mr. Rai later announced that the next instalment of the anti-air pollution initiative, in a first, will take place on an inter-State route — Loni Road, which connects the Capital to western Uttar Pradesh.
“From now on, we will distribute saplings on every car-free days since steps to increase Delhi’s green cover need to be taken besides measures to control air pollution,” Mr. Rai told journalists.
“The next car-free day will be held at Loni Road in northeast Delhi,” the Transport Minister added, before going on to claim that the AAP government was “making all efforts” to check pollution levels in Delhi.
According to a senior government official, a local tea vendor was chosen to plant the first sapling, handed to him by officials of the Environment Department. Subsequent instalments of car-free initiative too will see participation of other “ aamaadmis ”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rai stated that the government was “looking forward” to the next phase of the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme, scheduled to be held between April 15 and April 30. He also utilised the opportunity to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) Centre.
“The AAP-led Delhi government completed one year in office on February 14. Despite consistent hurdles, difficulties, conspiracies and CBI raids, the Delhi government has produced results and it is just because of your good wishes. Despite their [the Centre’s opposition] efforts, we are working and we will continue to work,” Mr. Rai said.
