Three students perished in the flooded basement of their coaching facility, causing a recent tragedy to occur in the nation's capital. About half of the city's typical rainfall was absorbed a century ago, according to town planners and environmentalists. However, only 20% of the rainwater is absorbed these days, leaving the remaining 80% as stormwater, because of the increasing volume of built surfaces overlaying the soil.
In order to address the problem more scientifically, preventive measures are desperately needed. With trees' critical function in stormwater management, planting initiatives such as "Trees for Delhi" are becoming increasingly relevant.
When this initiative, which is being carried out by the social enterprise Grow-Trees.com, is completed, the city's canopy of greenery will have increased, and its trees will retain rainwater before it reaches the ground. Rainwater that flows off into storm drains or rivers will be lessened as a result. Additionally, trees will aid in the filtration of contaminants, enhancing the quality of the water.
"Trees for Delhi" has already had a significant influence on the suburbs of the city, in addition to stormwater management.
For example, prior to joining "Trees for Delhi," Angoori, a 34-year-old homemaker from Usmanpur in Delhi, was having difficulty providing for her family. She began to earn well and became more active in choosing planting sites, digging planting holes, and caring for seedlings. In addition to giving residents more work options, the "Trees for Delhi" initiative has improved Delhi's ecology by protecting biodiversity and boosting the city's ability to withstand natural disasters.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change presented statistics showing that Delhi's monthly average Air Quality Index (AQI) for April was 182 in 2024, 180 in 2023, and 255 in 2022. In India, an AQI of 0–50 is deemed good for health consequences, while 51–100 is deemed adequate. This shows that this serious issue has to be addressed, and studies have previously shown how important it is to reduce pollution by planting trees.
“I am truly grateful to this plantation initiative, and the people engaged in the plantation activities. The act of planting trees brings benefits to all living beings, enhancing the beauty of our environment and maintaining a cool temperature. Such initiatives inspire individuals to take further steps in protecting our environment," said Rahul Kumar, Section Office, of the Delhi Development Authority horticulture department, highlighting the change that the project has brought to Delhi and its communities.
“In this financial year, we are planting 25,000 trees in Yudhister Setu, Signature Bridge Yamuna, and Usmanpur. Nearly 1,76,000 trees have already been planted in Yudhistir Bridge IT Park, Jheel Park, Smriti Van, Golden Jubilee Garden, CWG Village, Green Belt Yamuna, Art of Living area - Yamuna and Sanjay Lake in the Delhi-NCR region. These trees, once fully grown, can play a critical role in absorbing pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and carbon dioxide, thereby reducing the concentration of these harmful substances in the air,” says Mr. Pradip Shah, co-founder of Grow-trees.com.
Under the initiative, species like Neem, Shisham, Jamun, Sohajna, Peepal, Ashok, Pilkhan, Papri, and Burma Dek, most of which are either fruit-bearing or have medicinal properties, are being planted.
“Enhanced tree cover also restores habitats for diverse species of birds, insects, and small mammals. This strengthens the region’s biodiversity and maintains the delicate balance of ecosystems. It will also ensure the long-term survival and prosperity of various flora and fauna, ultimately enriching the ecological health of our national capital,” adds Mr. Shah. Grow-Trees.com is targeting the plantation of over 2,05,000 trees in Delhi.
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