Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra on Thursday, 20 August led a mass plantation programme at the President's Bodyguard (PBG) Grounds, Central Ridge, as part of the Delhi Mega Plantation Drive 2026 and the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. The event marks a significant push under the city government's ambitious target of planting 70 lakh saplings across the capital.

Key Developments

Delhi Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa joined Malhotra at the PBG Grounds, underlining the cross-departmental commitment to the drive. The programme places special emphasis on public participation, protection of planted trees, and ensuring their long-term survival — not merely the act of planting itself.

Notably, the drive incorporates geo-tagging of every sapling to enable monitoring and accountability, a feature officials say distinguishes this initiative from earlier plantation campaigns that struggled with survival rates.

What the Leaders Said

Malhotra described the Central Ridge event as 'a pivotal step towards transforming environmental conservation into a widespread community movement across the capital.' He highlighted that BJP leaders, Members of Parliament, MLAs, corporators, and ground-level workers across every Mandal are actively carrying the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' message to individual neighbourhoods.

Malhotra added that under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the initiative is about 'taking full responsibility for protecting, geo-tagging and nurturing every single tree to secure Delhi's sustainable future.'

Sirsa emphasised the government's people-first approach: 'Our resolve is not merely to plant trees, but to bring the people of Delhi together in this mission. We want every tree to be planted with a sense of responsibility and affection, just as we care for our mothers.'

Community Outreach and Participation

Malhotra called on civil society organisations, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and professional bodies to join the green movement. The drive is designed to move beyond government-led action and embed environmental responsibility at the community level across all of Delhi's localities.

This comes amid growing concern over Delhi's urban heat island effect and declining green cover in densely populated zones. The Central Ridge, one of the capital's key green lungs, was chosen as the symbolic launch site for Thursday's event.

What Comes Next

With the 70 lakh sapling target set for 2026, authorities are expected to ramp up drives across all districts in the coming weeks. The geo-tagging mechanism will allow officials to track survival rates and hold local bodies accountable — a measurable framework that previous drives lacked. Whether community participation translates into lasting green cover will be the defining test of the campaign's success.