New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday met President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan and apprised her of the ongoing plantation drive in the capital, an official statement said.

Dikshit, who presented a sapling to the president, informed her that ‘Delhi Plants a Million Trees’, a special drive launched by Delhi government, is gaining momentum, a state government statement said.

She assured the president that the government is committed to extending its green area from existing 20 percent to 33 percent in the next few years to reach the national average.

The Delhi government had July 23 launched a mass plantation drive that will see one million trees come up in the capital.

The Delhi Metro, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority and NGOs will be involved in the effort.

The government will also provide free saplings across Delhi.