Chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday said that the green cover in the capital will be increased to 30 per cent over the next two years.

Inaugurating a plantation drive at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) complex here, Ms Dikshit lauded the schoolchildren for their active role in plantation drive. "They have become a role model in this field," she said.

KOCHI: With the Centre introducing several benefits for eco-friendly buildings, the Indian Green Building Council, Kerala Chapter, is planning to popularise the concept of green buildings in the city.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today launched a greening drive in Delhi and inaugurated setting up of a city forest at Rewla Khanpur-III in southwest Delhi where 10,000 saplings are to be planted.

One hundred sixty children who were part of the greening drive planted 1,000 saplings in the city forest.

The MCD has demanded the Delhi government to immediately release Rs 50 crores needed for beautification of the city for the Commonwealth Games 2010. The civic body plans to plant at leas 10 lakh trees and shrubs as well as spruce up its parks.

INTACH on Friday organised a half-day consultation of experts on the need to give special attention to the tree wealth of the city, with special reference to heritage trees.

With the enhanced JNNURM largesse likely to cushion its kitty, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is rethinking about seeking the soft loan it had sought from the World Bank for various development projects in the city.

Mumbai N Parel, right outside ITC Grand Central: Four big rain trees have suddenly begun shedding leaves. The trees, each nearly 18 inches in diameter, seem to be beginning to rot. The outer bark is peeling off and a ghostly white inner bark is beginning to show.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will soon set up an Environment Cell to look into solid waste management, cutting down of tress and forest conservation within the Palike limits and establish 198 ''BBMP One'' centres in as many wards.

Palike Commissioner, Bharath Lal Meena said officials from the forest department will be associated with the Cell.

PRASHANT PANDEY