Send proposal for greenery of Yamuna's O-zone area: Environment Minister tells DDA

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday wrote to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) urging them to "allow greening of the O-zone area around the Yamuna river-bed". The banks of the Yamuna are known as O-zone.

Hussain wrote to DDA Vice-Chairman Uday Pratap Singh requesting him to direct his officers to forward a proposal to the Delhi government in order to promote greenery in the city.

"The DDA has been approached a number of times for making the sites of O-zone available to the city government for carrying out tree plantation. However, we are yet to receive a concrete proposal from the DDA in this regard," the minister wrote.

The O-zone is approximately 23-km long on each side of the river and is under the control and supervision of the DDA.

Increasing the green cover is essential to tackle the menace of pollution in the city, the minister added.

"I have been constantly reviewing the action taken by the greening agencies, tree census and a third-party audit of tree plantation. During these meetings, plantation at the banks of the Yamuna has been considered to increase the green cover as well as prevent the place from encroachment," wrote Hussain.

The green cover will also help keep the bank of the river clean, as it witnesses massive pollution from religious offerings and other non-biodegradable material that is thrown into the river.