Delhi's MCD Launches Bamboo Planting Initiative at Cremation Sites to Enhance Green Cover and Mitigate Pollution
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced a groundbreaking project to plant bamboo groves along the boundaries of cremation and burial grounds across the city. This initiative aims to significantly boost Delhi's green cover while addressing air pollution issues caused by gases emitted during cremation processes, according to a civic official speaking to TOI.
Natural Bio-Fencing as a Low-Cost Alternative to Conventional Walls
The official explained that bamboo plantations will serve as a natural bio-fencing, offering a cost-effective substitute for expensive boundary walls. "Instead of constructing costly walls, we are opting for bamboo plantations to create a natural protective barrier around these sensitive areas," he stated. The dense foliage of bamboo is expected to act as an efficient filter, trapping smoke and dust particles, thereby improving air quality in and around the sites.
Project Funding and Implementation Timeline
The expenditure for this eco-friendly project will be covered by the public health department. All district health officers have been instructed to submit requests to deputy directors of health in their respective zones to facilitate the installation of this peripheral fencing. Officials have been directed to prioritize the project and commence the process immediately to ensure that tenders can be issued promptly.
The plantation drive is scheduled to take place before or during this year's monsoon season, which is considered the optimal time for planting bamboo to ensure high survival rates and rapid growth.
Scope of MCD-Managed Facilities and Recent Developments
The MCD oversees a wide array of facilities, including:
- Approximately 50 wood-based cremation grounds
- Two electric crematoriums
- Eight CNG-based cremation facilities
- Seven Muslim graveyards
- Five burial grounds for children
- Four Christian cemeteries, most of which are operated by non-governmental organizations
Recent infrastructure improvements in the city include:
- Completion of a CNG mortuary at Dassghat cremation ground
- Ongoing construction of another facility at P K Road in Mangolpuri
- Upgradation of an electric crematorium at Sarai Kale Khan, where last rites for unclaimed bodies are conducted
Additional land development has been carried out at Buland Masjid graveyard and graveyards in Mulla Colony and Sapera Basti. Under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the installation of two new CNG furnaces is currently underway at cremation grounds in Mangolpuri and Sector 26 in Rohini.
This bamboo planting project represents a strategic move by the MCD to integrate environmental sustainability with public health management, leveraging natural solutions to combat urban pollution effectively.
