In a bid to enhance green cover, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has introduced a new regulation requiring mandatory tree plantation for all building approvals starting April 1. Under this rule, no building map will be approved unless it includes designated areas for tree planting, with specific requirements based on the size of the plot. For residential plots, two trees must be planted for every 100 square meters, while commercial and industrial plots must plant two trees for every 80 square meters. Additionally, schools and parks must maintain at least 20% of their area as green space. A refundable security deposit will be required, ranging from ₹5,000 for residential plots up to 200 square meters to ₹2 lakh for schools. This initiative comes in response to significant tree loss due to development projects and aims to combat Ghaziabad's severe air pollution, which has made it the most polluted city in India, with an average PM2.5 level of 172 micrograms per cubic meter last winter.