Planting trees can address Delhi’s stormwater crisis as well as air pollution
The national capital recently experienced a major tragedy when three students died in the flooded basement of their coaching centre. Town planners and environmentalists say that a century ago, the city absorbed about half of its average rainfall. However, due to the increased volume of constructed surfaces covering the soil, only 20 percent is absorbed, leaving 80 percent as stormwater.
Preventive measures are needed urgently to tackle the issue more scientifically. Considering the crucial role trees can play in managing stormwater, the relevance of plantation projects like ‘Trees for Delhi,’ is growing in importance. Implemented by the social enterprise Grow-Trees.com, this project on completion will not only expand the leafy green cover of the city but its trees will also catch and hold rainfall before it hits the ground. This will reduce the amount of rainwater that runs off directly into storm drains or waterways. Trees will also help to filter out pollutants, thereby improving water quality.
Apart from stormwater management, ‘Trees for Delhi’ has already made a huge impact on the communities in the suburbs of the city.
For instance, Angoori, a 34-year-old housewife from Usmanpur in Delhi, was struggling to support her family until she became part of ‘Trees for Delhi’. She grew involved in identifying planting locations, preparing planting holes, and nurturing saplings and also started earning well.
The ‘Trees for Delhi’ project has not only provided additional job opportunities to locals but also created a significant impact on the environment of Delhi by preserving biodiversity and strengthening the city’s resilience to ecological challenges. According to data provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the month-wise daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi for April was 182 in 2024, 180 in 2023 and 255 in 2022. In terms of health impacts, an AQI of 0–50 is considered good in India, while 51–100 is considered satisfactory. This indicates the necessity to address this grave concern, and scientific studies have already underscored the significance of tree-planting initiatives to tackle pollution.
Highlighting the change that the project has brought to Delhi and its communities, Rahul Kumar, Section Office, of the Delhi Development Authority horticulture department adds “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.”
“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.
