Study OAS · 08 July 2026

Delhi Launches 70-Lakh Tree Plantation Drive

What’s the News?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched Mission 70 Lakh Tree Plantation Campaign in Delhi under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative. The campaign is linked with Delhi’s broader green agenda, including Ridge forest restoration, native species plantation, Yamuna pollution control, electric mobility expansion, and urban ecological rejuvenation.

Mission 70 Lakh Tree Plantation Campaign

• Aim: Plant over 70 lakh saplings across Delhi.
• Part of Delhi’s Green Action Plan 2026–27.
• Focus areas:
  • Open land
  • Parks
  • Roadside stretches
  • Forest areas
  • Urban public spaces
• Citizen participation is planned through the Green Drive Portal.
• Around 12 lakh saplings are to be distributed free of cost.
• Saplings will be geo-tagged and digitally monitored to improve survival rates.

Delhi Ridge Rejuvenation Plan

• Delhi government has prepared an Eco-restoration Plan 2026–2030 for Ridge forests.
• Target: Restore nearly 6,300 hectares of Ridge forest.
• Plantation goal: Over 1 crore native trees over four years, along with shrubs, bamboo and climbers.
• Key ecological actions:
  • Removal of invasive species such as babul/kikar/Vilayati Keekar.
  • Replacement with native species such as:
    • Peepal
    • Banyan
    • Neem
    • Arjun
    • Jamun
• Nearly 5,000 hectares of Ridge land have been brought under legal forest protection.
• More than 70 water bodies/ponds are planned or proposed for revival and development.

Green Drive Portal

• Technology platform for public participation in plantation.
• Functions:
  • Register for plantation activities.
  • Reserve plantation slots.
  • Locate government nurseries.
  • Request sapling delivery through Vriksh Rath.
• Useful for improving transparency, monitoring and citizen engagement in urban afforestation.

Yamuna & Clean Mobility Link

• The campaign is part of a wider environmental package for Delhi.
• The government plans cooperation with the National Dairy Development Board to process cattle dung into:
  • Biogas
  • Organic manure
• This aims to reduce waste flow into the Yamuna.
• Delhi also flagged off 300 electric buses and inaugurated electric bus depots to support clean transport.
• Delhi’s public bus fleet includes thousands of electric buses, with targets to expand e-bus deployment further.

Additional Info

• Delhi Ridge
  • Northern extension of the Aravalli hill system.
  • Acts as Delhi’s major ecological buffer and “green lung”.
  • Commonly divided into:
    • Northern Ridge
    • Central Ridge
    • South-Central Ridge
    • Southern Ridge
• Reserved Forest
  • A legally protected forest category under Indian forest law.
  • Activities such as grazing, cutting trees or collecting forest produce are restricted unless permitted.
• Vilayati Keekar
  • Common name: Prosopis juliflora.
  • Invasive alien species.
  • Often spreads rapidly in dry regions and can suppress native biodiversity.
• Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
  • A plantation campaign encouraging citizens to plant a tree in honour of their mother.
  • Relevant for topics such as:
    • Urban forestry
    • Climate action
    • Citizen participation
    • Environmental governance

Sources

• The Tribune
• NDTV