New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal led the 33rd consecutive Sunday plantation drive under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam OnSunday' campaign at the Women's Technical Institute (WTI), Netaji Nagar, on 19 July, officials said. The unbroken run of weekly drives reflects sustained civic momentum behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a nationwide tree-planting movement.

Campaign Milestone and Citizen Participation

Addressing participants at the event, Chahal noted that 33 uninterrupted Sundays of plantation activity signal a deepening public awareness around environmental conservation. He called on residents to treat the initiative as a people's movement rather than a government programme, urging active and sustained involvement.

Beyond the weekly drives, NDMC has been conducting large-scale plantation programmes in collaboration with universities, embassies, and various institutions, broadening the campaign's reach across New Delhi.

Who Participated

Komal Pathak, Principal of the Women's Technical Institute, along with faculty members and students, participated in the drive. Senior NDMC officers — including Purnesh, Chief Engineer; Col Hari SE; Col Kaushik; Jitender Dabas, Deputy Director Horticulture — and officials from the Civil, Electrical, Water Supply, Sewerage, and Horticulture departments also planted saplings in honour of their mothers.

What Chahal Said

Chahal emphasised that planting saplings alone is insufficient — their regular care, protection, and maintenance are equally critical and must be treated as a shared civic responsibility. 'Every sapling planted in honour of one's mother symbolises our gratitude towards Mother Nature and lays a strong foundation for a cleaner, greener and more secure future for generations to come,' he said.

He also linked the campaign to the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, stating that environmental conservation, women's skill development, modern technical education, and self-reliance are its key pillars.

WTI Modernisation Inspection

Following the plantation programme, Chahal conducted a detailed inspection of the WTI campus at Netaji Nagar, reviewing existing infrastructure, institutional facilities, and training resources with Heads of Department and senior officers. He directed the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the institute's comprehensive modernisation, covering upgraded campus buildings, modern training infrastructure, a herbal garden, a cafeteria, and smart facilities.

With the DPR now in motion, the WTI upgrade is expected to serve as a concrete step in aligning NDMC's institutional footprint with the Viksit Bharat development framework.