By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Delhi’s Mega Plantation Drive 2026 gathered fresh momentum with a mass plantation programme at the PBG Grounds in the Central Ridge under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, led by Delhi BJP President and Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra and Delhi Environment, Forest & Wildlife Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
The campaign, being undertaken under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, aims to plant 70 lakh saplings across the national capital, while placing equal emphasis on protecting and nurturing the trees after plantation.
The programme saw participation from MPs, MLAs, Mandal teams, councillors, party office-bearers, workers, environmental volunteers and citizens across Delhi.
Sirsa said the initiative was being developed as a long-term environmental movement rather than merely a plantation campaign. “What we have started is not just a plantation campaign; it is a long-term movement for the environment,” he said, adding that citizens were voluntarily coming forward and being encouraged to take responsibility for planting, protecting and nurturing trees.
According to the minister, around 1.78 lakh people have registered on the campaign portal, with approximately 1.54 lakh participating, resulting in around 3.42 lakh trees being planted through citizen participation.
The campaign has also deployed 13 Vriksh Raths across Delhi, connecting more than 58,000 people with plantation activities. More than 6 lakh saplings have been distributed free of cost through institutions including the CRPF, BSF, schools and colleges.
Sirsa said approximately 15 lakh trees have been planted by the Forest Department, while plantation undertaken collectively by the Forest Department, DDA, MCD and other agencies has taken Delhi’s overall plantation figure to around 50 lakh trees.
The drive is also focusing on monitoring the survival and growth of planted trees. Trees are being geo-tagged, while a QR-code-based system is being developed to enable citizens to track the growth of trees planted by them.
Malhotra said the Central Ridge plantation programme marked an important step towards turning environmental conservation into a community movement. He highlighted the participation of BJP MPs, MLAs, councillors and workers across Mandals in taking the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ message to neighbourhoods across the capital.
The campaign has also brought professional and civil society organisations into the initiative, including the Bar Association of Delhi, Delhi Medical Association, clubs, chartered accountants, Resident Welfare Associations and FICCI.
Sirsa said the Mega Plantation Drive was launched with the participation and encouragement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with 5 lakh trees planted at 51 locations on the first day and around 12,000 people taking part.
Beyond plantation, the government has also undertaken measures aimed at strengthening Delhi’s ecological infrastructure. Eight water bodies have been restored and around 100 check dams constructed, while 12,000 acres have been declared Ridge Forest.
A 10-year master plan for the Delhi Ridge has also been prepared for its long-term management and conservation. A Bird Atlas of Delhi has been prepared to support biodiversity conservation, while a wildlife management plan for Asola has been developed for better protection of habitats and wildlife, including leopards, deer and jackals.
Sirsa stressed that the success of the campaign would ultimately be judged not by the number of saplings planted but by their survival and growth.
“Our work is to plant trees, but our responsibility is to ensure that they grow and become a lasting asset for Delhi,” he said.
