Amit Shah launches Delhi's 70 lakh tree plantation drive at 34 locations
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah personally launched Delhi's most ambitious single-season greening effort on 7 July — a drive to plant 70 lakh trees across 34 simultaneous locations. With NDMC already contributing 55% of Delhi's green cover despite holding just 3% of its land area, this campaign is a pointed response to the capital's chronic air quality crisis.
Key Takeaways
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Mega Tree Plantation Drive on 7 July 2025 , targeting 70 lakh trees at 34 locations across Delhi.
NDMC has set a target of 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs , with over 50,000 planting pits already prepared.
Native species including Peepal , Neem , Jamun , and Gulmohar will be planted to support biodiversity.
NDMC has completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation drives under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
NDMC maintains 1,450 acres of green spaces and contributes nearly 55% of Delhi's green cover despite covering only 3% of its area.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 7 July inaugurated Delhi's ambitious Mega Tree Plantation Drive, launching a campaign to plant 70 lakh trees across 34 locations simultaneously. Shah planted a sapling in the Central Ridge area, which houses the President's Bodyguard, marking the formal start of one of the capital's largest single-season greening efforts.
Key Officials Present
The inauguration drew a cross-section of Delhi's political leadership. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Lok Sabha MPs Manoj Tiwari and Yogender Chandolia, and Delhi Ministers Parvesh Verma and Manjinder Singh Sirsa were all present at the event, signalling broad institutional backing for the drive.
NDMC's Role and Targets
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is a key implementing partner, with a target of planting around 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs. According to NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal, more than 50,000 planting pits have already been prepared ahead of the drive.
Chahal confirmed that native, environmentally sustainable species — including Peepal, Neem, Jamun, Imli, Champa, Ashoka, Gulmohar, and Amaltas — will be prioritised. Ornamental and native shrubs such as Hamelia, Justicia, Canna, Lily, and Murraya will also be planted to boost biodiversity and the aesthetic quality of NDMC's green spaces.
A Continuous Movement, Not a One-Day Event
Chahal emphasised that for NDMC, plantation is 'not merely a one-day programme but a continuous people's movement.' Under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam – On Sunday' campaign, NDMC has already completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation drives. Plantation activities are also regularly conducted during national festivals, special occasions, and public events.
The drive has drawn participation from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Traders Associations (MTAs), schools, institutions, and local residents — what Chahal described as a genuine example of Jan Bhagidari (people's participation). All NDMC Council Members, Heads of Departments, officers, and employees are also participating by planting trees at various locations across the council area.
NDMC's Green Footprint
Chahal highlighted that NDMC currently maintains 1,450 acres of green spaces, comprising six iconic parks, 122 colony parks, 981 CPWD-maintained parks, 52 school green areas, 51 roundabouts, 14 market gardens, and nearly 15,000 avenue trees. Notably, despite covering only about 3 per cent of Delhi's geographical area, NDMC contributes nearly 55 per cent of the capital's total green cover — making it one of the greenest urban local bodies in the country.
With Delhi's air quality consistently ranking among the worst in the world during winter months, the scale and ambition of the 70-lakh-tree drive will be closely watched for its long-term environmental impact.
Point of View
Low-controversy wins for urban governments. The more substantive question is survival rate: Delhi has announced large-scale plantation drives before, and independent audits have repeatedly found that a significant share of saplings do not survive beyond one monsoon season. NDMC's claim of 55% green cover contribution from 3% of land is impressive on paper, but it also reflects how concentrated and curated that green cover is — confined largely to Lutyens' Delhi rather than the densely populated periphery where air quality is worst. The 70-lakh target needs a public survival-tracking mechanism to be anything more than a headline number.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Delhi's Mega Tree Plantation Drive launched by Amit Shah?
It is a large-scale greening initiative inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 7 July 2025, targeting the plantation of 70 lakh trees across 34 locations in Delhi. The drive is supported by the NDMC and multiple Delhi government departments, with a focus on native and environmentally sustainable tree species.
Which tree species will be planted under the Delhi plantation drive?
Native species including Peepal, Neem, Jamun, Imli, Champa, Ashoka, Gulmohar, and Amaltas will be planted. Ornamental and native shrubs such as Hamelia, Justicia, Canna, Lily, and Murraya will also be added to enhance biodiversity and aesthetic appeal.
What is the NDMC's specific target in the plantation drive?
The New Delhi Municipal Council has set a target of planting around 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs, with more than 50,000 planting pits already prepared, according to NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal.
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
It is an ongoing NDMC initiative that conducts plantation drives every Sunday. As of the launch of the Mega Drive, NDMC had completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation sessions under this campaign, making it a year-round effort rather than a seasonal one.
How much of Delhi's green cover does NDMC maintain?
Despite covering only about 3% of Delhi's geographical area, NDMC maintains 1,450 acres of green spaces and contributes nearly 55% of the capital's total green cover, making it one of the greenest urban local bodies in India.
