Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a massive tree plantation drive in Delhi under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. In the next four years, more than 1 crore native saplings will be planted in the Ridge area of Delhi, so that it can be made the ‘lungs of Green Delhi’.
New Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched the Eco Restoration Mega Plantation Drive in Delhi under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. He announced that more than one crore native saplings will be planted in the ridge area in the next four years. The government plans to make it the “lungs of Green Delhi”.
Mission to plant 70 lakh saplings started in Delhi, many big leaders were present
Along with this program, a mission to plant 70 lakh saplings in the entire capital was also started. Shah himself planted a sapling during the programme. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, BJP MPs Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, Kamaljit Sehrawat and Praveen Khandelwal as well as Delhi ministers Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Kapil Mishra were also present at the event.
Amit Shah said – This campaign is an important part of the master plan of Delhi’s development.
Addressing the people, Shah said that this tree plantation campaign is part of a larger master plan for the development of the capital. He said,
“Today many programs have started from a single platform. The foundation stone of the high-security jail at Narela was laid, the Automated Vehicle Testing Center was e-inaugurated, three newly constructed depots were inaugurated, 300 electric buses were launched and most importantly, we have started a program to rejuvenate and green the Ridge.”
Delhi Ridge will get a new life, 6300 hectare green forest will become the lungs of the capital.
Emphasizing the environmental importance of the ridge, Shah said the government has given legal protection to a large part of the forest and has initiated a long-term ecological restoration plan. He said,
“In the remaining four years of our Delhi government, we will protect the 6,300 hectare Green Ridge Forest sector by planting trees. This 6,300 hectare Green Ridge will become the lungs of Delhi and protect Delhi’s environment. More than one crore native plants, more than 35 lakh saplings of big trees and 65 lakh other shrubs, bamboo and medicinal plants will be planted.”
Biodiversity will increase with native plants, appeal to people to join the campaign
He said that to bring back biodiversity and improve the ecological balance of the capital, indigenous species like Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Gular, Arjun and Jamun will be planted. The Union Home Minister appealed to the people of Delhi to participate in this campaign by registering on the Green Drive portal and planting trees under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative.
Big announcement on Asola Bhatti Plan, Delhi Bird Atlas and Biogas Project
Shah also informed that the Delhi government has also prepared a working plan document, Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan and Delhi Bird Atlas for 2026-2036 as part of a comprehensive ecosystem restoration programme. He further said that theme forests, ponds, archaeological conservation and public facilities will also be developed in the ridge area. He also said that the government will soon enter into an agreement with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Its objective is to ensure that about 1,500 metric tonnes of cow dung produced daily from dairies is converted into biogas and natural fertilizer instead of being discharged into the Yamuna.
CM Rekha Gupta said- This is a historic initiative towards increasing green cover.
Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that this campaign of planting 70 lakh saplings is a big step towards restoring the green cover of the capital. He thanked the Union Home Minister for supporting this initiative and said that the combined efforts of the Center and Delhi Government will help in tackling major environmental challenges.