Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: DDA plants 55 saplings at Haus Khas park in Delhi
Synopsis
The DDA planted 55 saplings at Gulmohar Park in Haus Khas on 23 July under PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative — with a Supreme Court advocate, a retired Air Commodore, and BJP leaders joining locals in what organisers say is a rolling campaign across Delhi's parks during the monsoon window.
Key Takeaways
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) conducted a plantation drive at Gulmohar Park, Haus Khas on 23 July under the Centre's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
Around 55 saplings were planted at the site, confirmed by Air Commodore Ranjan Mukherjee (Retd) .
BJP leader Shyam Jaju called tree plantation the 'only solution' to Delhi's pollution crisis.
Supreme Court advocate Virag Gupta highlighted the cultural importance of trees and urged the new generation to join the campaign.
Plantation drives have already been carried out across parks in south and north Delhi as part of the same initiative.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Thursday, 23 July conducted a plantation drive at Gulmohar Park in the Haus Khas area of New Delhi, as part of the Centre's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Around 55 saplings were planted at the site, with participants drawn from the judiciary, the military, politics, and local communities.
Who Participated
The drive brought together a notably diverse cross-section of civic life. Veteran Air Commodore Ranjan Mukherjee, who took part in the initiative, confirmed that approximately 55 saplings were planted at the park on the day. 'Senior lawyers, judges, politicians and locals participated in this initiative today. The aim is to make Delhi and the country greener. We want to work towards saving the planet, and this is a very important step in that aspect,' he said.
Supreme Court advocate Virag Gupta also joined the drive, noting that planting trees during the monsoon season carries special significance at a time when the world is grappling with global warming. 'Planting trees holds utmost importance in India's culture and even literature. The new generation should join this campaign, which will ensure the wellness of the kids as well as that of mother Earth,' he said. Gupta added that he personally plants up to 70 saplings on occasions such as his birthday and anniversary, with some of those trees now standing 15 to 20 feet tall.
What the BJP Said
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shyam Jaju praised the DDA's effort, framing it within the broader challenge of air pollution in the capital. 'No one is working towards providing a solution to pollution. The DDA has taken a very good initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to implement the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign,' he said. He added that the campaign carries both a spiritual and personal message, and called for similar drives to be replicated across the national capital.
Jaju noted that plantation drives have already been conducted across parks in south and north Delhi, and credited public participation as the key factor in the campaign's success. 'People have made this initiative successful as no scheme can be fruitful without public participation,' he stated.
Context and Significance
The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign — which translates to 'One Tree in Mother's Name' — was launched by Prime Minister Modi as a nationwide greening initiative that links environmental action to an emotional, personal gesture. Delhi, which consistently ranks among the world's most polluted capitals, has been a focal point for such drives given its severe winter smog and deteriorating air quality indices.
This comes amid growing urgency around urban tree cover, with environmental experts repeatedly flagging that Delhi's green canopy has failed to keep pace with its expanding population and vehicular density. The monsoon window — when sapling survival rates are highest — is widely considered the optimal period for such efforts.
What Comes Next
Organisers indicated that the drive is part of a continuing series of plantation events across Delhi's parks. With the monsoon season providing ideal conditions for sapling growth, further drives are expected in the weeks ahead. Civic bodies and resident welfare associations have been encouraged to scale up participation to maximise the campaign's long-term impact on the city's green cover.
Point of View
Not a structural fix — and Delhi's air quality data makes that distinction important. The city loses thousands of trees annually to construction and road-widening, often outpacing what campaign-mode planting can recover. The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative succeeds in generating civic participation, but without a verifiable, city-wide sapling survival audit, the net green gain remains unclear. The real test for the DDA is whether these drives translate into measurable increases in canopy cover, or remain feel-good monsoon rituals that do not move Delhi's air quality index.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' — meaning 'One Tree in Mother's Name' — is a nationwide tree plantation initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that links environmental action to a personal, emotional gesture of planting a tree in one's mother's honour. It is being implemented across states and Union Territories through government bodies including the DDA.
Where was the DDA plantation drive held on 23 July?
The drive was held at Gulmohar Park in the Haus Khas area of New Delhi. Around 55 saplings were planted at the site during the event.
Who participated in the Haus Khas plantation drive?
Participants included BJP leader Shyam Jaju, retired Air Commodore Ranjan Mukherjee, Supreme Court advocate Virag Gupta, senior lawyers, judges, and local residents — reflecting a broad cross-section of civic and professional life.
Why is tree plantation during monsoon significant for Delhi?
The monsoon season offers the highest sapling survival rates, making it the optimal window for plantation drives. Delhi, one of the world's most polluted capitals, has been a key focus of greening efforts given its deteriorating air quality and insufficient urban tree cover.
Has the DDA conducted similar drives elsewhere in Delhi?
Yes, according to BJP leader Shyam Jaju, plantation drives have already been carried out across multiple parks in both south and north Delhi as part of the same 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, with further events expected during the monsoon season.
