Union Minister of State for Ayush and Health, Prataprao Jadhav, on Friday, 10 July wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, endorsing the city government's conservation blueprint for the Delhi Ridge ecosystem and urging that medicinal plant species be woven into its large-scale plantation initiative. The letter marks a formal push by the Ministry of Ayush to align urban afforestation with India's traditional medicine supply chain.

What the Delhi Ridge Plan Proposes

The Delhi government's initiative envisions the plantation of over 70 lakh indigenous and climate-resilient trees, the development of more than 70 water bodies, and the notification of nearly 6,000 hectares of land as forest area. Jadhav described these measures as a meaningful step toward strengthening Delhi's ecological security and improving urban air quality.

A key element of the plan is the replacement of invasive species — notably Vilayati Kikar and Babool — with indigenous varieties such as Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Arjun, and Jamun. Jadhav noted that this shift would help transform the Ridge into what he called the 'lungs of Delhi', creating a healthier urban environment for future generations.

Jadhav's Medicinal Forest Proposal

Highlighting the potential to integrate environmental conservation with public health and traditional medicine, Jadhav proposed that at least 20 per cent of the plantation across the proposed eight forests be dedicated to medicinal plant species. Where that is not feasible, he suggested that at least two forests be developed as dedicated Medicinal Forests, or Aushadhi Vans.

According to his letter, such forests would serve multiple purposes: generating a sustainable source of quality raw material for the Ayush sector, promoting biodiversity conservation, supporting ecological restoration, and encouraging eco-tourism within the National Capital Region (NCR).

Recommended Medicinal Species

Jadhav shared with Chief Minister Gupta an indicative list of medicinal plant species suited to Delhi's agro-climatic conditions. The list includes Ashwagandha, Giloy, Tulsi, Brahmi, Shatavari, Amla, Arjun, Ashok, Neem, Bel, and Jamun, among others — plants that are both ecologically compatible with the region and of documented significance in Ayurvedic medicine.

Broader Significance

The proposal sits at the intersection of two policy priorities: urban greening and the promotion of India's traditional healthcare systems. The Ministry of Ayush has in recent years sought to build a more robust domestic supply chain for medicinal raw materials, and integrating plantation drives into that effort could reduce dependence on wild-harvested or imported herbs.

Jadhav expressed confidence that the initiative, if adopted, could serve as a replicable model for other Indian cities looking to merge afforestation goals with traditional medicine ecosystems. How the Delhi government responds to the suggestion is expected to shape the next phase of the Ridge conservation plan.