New Delhi, July 9: Delhi will soon have a wall of nearly 31 lakh native trees encircling it as a shield from frequent dust storms and pollution from neighbouring states. These trees will guard Delhi against frequent dust storms coming from Rajasthan that envelops and chokes the national capital.

The natural barrier will come up all along Delhi border with Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while also encompassing the Aravali and the Yamuna forests areas.

According to details by officials, the Delhi forest department was planning to conduct this year’s monsoon plantation in a way that in a few years when the saplings grow into trees, they would act like a natural wall.

A senior official of the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change was quoted by PTI saying that various agencies of the Union and Delhi governments have already begun the work of planting nearly 31 lakh saplings of various native species on its three sides to keep Delhi away from frequent dust storms.

The reports further quoted the official saying that the scheme has two objectives, one being- absorption of pollution-causing particulate matters by trees and the other being- shielding Delhi from the choking dust storms, coming in from Rajasthan every year due to western disturbances.

The maximum number of trees would be planted by DDA, to be followed by the Forest Department (4.22 lakh), the three municipal corporation of Delhi (4 lakh), NDMC (3 lakh) and CPWD (35,000), reports informed.

Tall and dense trees like "pilkhan, goolar, mango, mahua" and other native trees have been chosen for this scheme based on scientific studies. The other trees also include pepul, neem, banyan, berry, amla (Indian gooseberry), jamun, amltash, harre, bahera among other trees that release ore Oxygen.

The reason why these trees have been selected is that they prevent the dust particle from rising above in the sky due to low atmospheric pressure and stop them from condensing at few meters above the ground.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2018 04:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).