NEW DELHI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Indian capital is all set to be home to 1.5 million new saplings in 2006-07, said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday on the occasion of World Environment Day.

    "We want to earn the reputation of a clean and green Delhi tag and are going to plant 1.5 million saplings this year. It will not only help us get a pollution free environment but also make the city look more beautiful," Indo-Asian News Service quoted Dikshit as saying.

    The chief minister said that her government is focused on enhancing the green cover of the city and that it will soon issue a green Delhi roadmap. She also planted a tree to celebrate the day.

    Of the 1.5 million saplings, 450,000 plants will be distributed to the public to plant them in their own properties. They will be distributed free of cost through nurseries and select petrol pumps, Delhi's Environment Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said.

    Authorities also said they would organize several workshops in schools, colleges and involve the student community in the drive.

    The participation of community eco-clubs will not only help the government in its mission but also create a larger awareness level among the public about the vegetation. It will also stop the illegal cutting of trees, said B.C. Sabat, senior scientific officer, department of environment.

    "We are selecting trees that need less water and can grow in the prevalent atmosphere of the capital," he said.

    On the occasion of World Environment Day, a local hotel organized the "Welcomenviron" walk to educate the public to "save the environment through afforestation".

    Around 100 people walked for about one km in southwest Delhi, and planted around 200 saplings. Enditem