The Municipal Corporation of Delhi launched "Van Mahotsav-2008' with the Leader of the MCD House Subhash Arya planting a sapling at a sanitary landfill site at Hastsal in West Delhi on Sunday. The total area of landfill is about 16 acre and while the civic body has developed a park on two acres at the site, the remaining land would be developed into a children park and herbal garden in a phased manner. The Chairman Garden Committee, Ved Prakash Gupta, was also present on the occasion along with several local residents. Mr. Gupta said since the newly developed park was built on the space belonging to a sanitary landfill site, it was causing problems to residents due to emission of harmful gases. "With a view to solve the problem, the MCD has decided to develop the entire 16 acres into green parks in a phased manner. During the second phase, the children park and herbal garden would also be developed,' he added. Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Arya claimed that during the past two years, there had been a substantial increase in greenery in Delhi and that the MCD was going to implement various development schemes to enhance the Capital's green cover before the upcoming Commonwealth Games. "All round-abouts and spaces below flyovers would be developed into attractive green spots. In every ward, at least one herbal garden would be developed,' he added. The Chairman Ward Committee West Zone Avtar Singh Hit emphasised that without active co-operation of citizens, the dream of making Delhi green and clean could not be fulfilled. "Every citizen should take responsibility of at least one sapling and ensure its upkeep and growth,' he added. While presiding over the function, area municipal councillor Vivek Tyagi informed that in the two acre park developed by the MCD at the site, over 500 trees of different species and over 11,000 shrubs had been planted. He also suggested that the pond adjoining the sanitary landfill at Hastsal should be developed into a lake which could be a recreational spot for residents of the area as well as for tourists.