Vibrant ecology for Ahmedabad with 1.3 lakh trees

For good ecological conditions of Ahmedabad, more than 1.3 lakh trees will be planted in two major locations – Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) green zone in Bhat Village and on the clover interchange on the Sarkhej Gandhinagar Highway in Adalaj. This would be done as a part of major campaign inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Ahmedabad Mayor Bijal Patel in Bhat village. Also, it will cover Koteshwar village which falls near Bhat.

A recent social forestry department survey revealed that Ahmedabad has a total of 6.15 lakh trees and the move will enhance the green here.     

Taking the cognizance of over-degrading air quality, and destruction of trees in the onslaught of development, the campaign was enforced. AUDA, Roads and building departments, Gujarat Forest Department, Urban Development Department, and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals (GNFC) are partners of this campaign.

The district of Ahmedabad which has a geographical area of 8,107 square km has 1.6 per cent covered with forests.

According to the officials of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), “A total of 1.06 lakh trees were planted in 2016-17. But the cut down of trees has risen to an average of 42 per cent in the same span. The number of trees cut down have been doubled in 2015-16. So, to abstain from the bad phase of ecology, this campaign is important.”