Delhi CM Rekha Gupta joins 70 lakh tree plantation drive in Model Town
Synopsis
Delhi's 70 lakh tree plantation drive — launched by Home Minister Amit Shah and now joined by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta — is mobilising residents through an online portal, turning urban afforestation into a citizen movement. With the NDMC's '#EkPedMaaKeNaam' campaign hitting its 32nd consecutive Sunday, the capital is making an unusually sustained institutional push to reclaim its green cover.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta participated in the 70 lakh tree plantation drive by planting a sapling in Model Town on 13 July .
The campaign was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 7 July , involving government departments, civic agencies, and residents.
A dedicated online portal allows citizens to book time slots for plantation activities at designated locations across Delhi.
NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal led the 32nd consecutive '#EkPedMaaKeNaam OnSunday' drive at Gole Market on Sunday.
Saplings are being planted at parks, institutional campuses, and roadside green belts across the national capital.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 13 July planted a sapling in the Model Town area, participating in the capital's large-scale 70 lakh tree plantation drive aimed at expanding New Delhi's green cover and improving air quality. The campaign, running across multiple parts of the city, is the latest push under Delhi's broader afforestation agenda.
Campaign Background and Launch
The mass plantation drive was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 7 July, drawing in government departments, civic agencies, resident welfare associations, and ordinary citizens. The Delhi government has set up a dedicated online portal through which residents can register and book time slots to participate in plantation activities at designated locations across the city.
Speaking after planting the sapling, Chief Minister Gupta said: 'Tree plantation programmes are being carried out continuously across Delhi under the Mass Plantation Drive. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched this campaign on July 7. The Delhi Government invited public participation through a dedicated portal, where people could book time slots to take part in the plantation drive. Citizens then visited the designated locations and actively participated in planting saplings...'
Scale and Targets
Saplings are being planted at parks, institutional campuses, roadside green belts, and other identified sites with support from various government agencies and volunteers. Officials said the initiative is designed to transform tree plantation into a mass movement, with citizens contributing directly to environmental protection rather than leaving it solely to government bodies.
The 70 lakh target is part of Delhi's wider effort to tackle chronic air pollution and ecological degradation in one of the world's most densely populated urban centres. Local communities and resident welfare associations have reportedly turned out in large numbers to support the drive.
NDMC's Parallel Drive at Gole Market
A day earlier, on Sunday, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal led a mass plantation event at Gole Market under the '#EkPedMaaKeNaam OnSunday' campaign — now in its 32nd consecutive edition. Chahal planted saplings alongside residents at the Central Government Employees RWA, Blocks 49–55, Type-III, Kali Bari Marg.
According to an official statement, the '#EkPedMaaKeNaam' initiative aims to convert environmental conservation into a people's movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the event, Chahal also interacted with Resident Welfare Association office-bearers under the 'Good Governance at Your Doorstep' initiative, hearing civic grievances and directing officials to resolve them promptly.
What Comes Next
With the campaign now in full swing across Delhi's neighbourhoods, the government is banking on sustained citizen participation to meet the 70 lakh sapling target. The success of the online registration portal in mobilising volunteers will be closely watched as a model for future urban environmental drives in other Indian cities.
Point of View
Yet afforestation campaigns in the capital have historically struggled with follow-through — saplings planted, survival rates untracked. The 70 lakh drive is notable for its institutional breadth, pulling in the NDMC, civic agencies, and an online citizen-registration portal. But the metric that matters is not saplings planted on day one; it is survival rate at year three. Without a transparent monitoring mechanism, this risks becoming another well-photographed green push that does not move the needle on Delhi's stubborn particulate pollution. The '#EkPedMaaKeNaam' campaign's 32 consecutive Sundays suggest some staying power — that continuity is the real story mainstream coverage is underplaying.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Delhi's 70 lakh tree plantation drive?
It is a large-scale afforestation campaign running across New Delhi, targeting the plantation of 70 lakh saplings at parks, green belts, institutional campuses, and other sites. The drive was launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 7 July and is supported by government departments, civic agencies, and citizen volunteers.
How can Delhi residents participate in the plantation drive?
Residents can register through a dedicated government online portal, book a convenient time slot, and visit a designated plantation location to plant saplings. The portal was set up by the Delhi government specifically to enable mass public participation.
Who launched the Delhi 70 lakh tree plantation campaign?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially launched the campaign on 7 July. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been actively participating and encouraging public involvement, including planting a sapling herself in the Model Town area on 13 July.
What is the '#EkPedMaaKeNaam OnSunday' campaign?
It is a weekly plantation initiative led by NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal, now in its 32nd consecutive Sunday edition. The campaign aims to make environmental conservation a people's movement and is held at various locations across New Delhi, most recently at Gole Market.
Why is the tree plantation drive important for Delhi?
Delhi faces severe air pollution and reduced green cover due to rapid urbanisation. The 70 lakh tree plantation drive is part of the capital's broader effort to improve air quality, increase ecological sustainability, and engage citizens directly in environmental conservation.
