Home Minister Amit Shah launches Delhi’s 70 lakh tree plantation drive
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched the Delhi government’s ambitious campaign to plant 70 lakh trees across the national capital by inaugurating a mega tree plantation drive at 34 locations.
As part of the programme, Shah planted a sapling in the Central Ridge area, which houses the President’s Bodyguard.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lok Sabha MPs Manoj Tiwari and Yogender Chandolia, and Delhi Ministers Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa were present at the event.
The campaign is being supported by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which has set a target of planting around 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs. According to NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal, more than 50,000 planting pits have already been prepared.
Chahal said the plantation drive will focus on native and environmentally sustainable tree species, including Peepal, Neem, Jamun, Imli, Champa, Ashoka, Gulmohar and Amaltas.
In addition, ornamental and native shrubs such as Hamelia, Justicia, Canna, Lily and Murraya, along with several other species, will be planted to enhance biodiversity and improve the aesthetic appeal of NDMC’s green spaces.
He said all NDMC council members, heads of departments, officers and employees will participate in the plantation drive by planting trees at various locations across the Council area.
Describing the initiative as a continuous public movement rather than a one-day event, Chahal said the NDMC has completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation drives under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – On Sunday’ campaign.
He added that plantation activities are also carried out regularly during national festivals, special occasions and public events, with active participation from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Traders Associations (MTAs), schools, institutions and local residents as part of Jan Bhagidari (people’s participation).
Highlighting the NDMC’s environmental initiatives, Chahal said the civic body currently maintains about 1,450 acres of green spaces, including six iconic parks, 122 colony parks, 981 CPWD-maintained parks, 52 school green areas, 51 roundabouts, 14 market gardens and nearly 15,000 avenue trees.
Despite covering only around 3 per cent of Delhi’s geographical area, the NDMC accounts for nearly 55 per cent of the capital’s green cover, making it one of the greenest urban local bodies in the country.
