Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, launched a large-scale native-species afforestation drive on the Delhi Ridge, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah formally congratulating her and announcing that 5,000 hectares of the ridge has been notified as forest area. The initiative aims to replace invasive species with long-living native trees over a three-year period, positioning the ridge as a green lung for the national capital.

Context

Speaking at the launch event, Home Minister Amit Shah described the ridge's current vegetation as ecologically misleading. In his words: 'Rij ke andar zahrile babool aur kantile kai prakar ke vriksh dikhai padte hain' — 'Inside the ridge, toxic babul and thorny trees of various kinds are visible, which create the illusion of a green Delhi but are not suited to our environment.' Shah added that the drive to plant native species such as peepal, banyan, neem, gular, arjun, and jamun — trees capable of surviving for more than 100 years — had formally begun that day.

Shah specifically congratulated Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for the forest notification, calling it a significant step toward making the ridge a true ecological asset for Delhi.

Policy Backdrop

The Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the ancient Aravalli range and has long been recognised as one of the capital's most critical ecological buffers. Successive administrations have attempted to protect it through notifications under the Indian Forest Act, designating sections as reserved or protected forests over several decades.

The current drive is linked to the national Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign — launched in 2024 — which promotes the planting of native tree species across India. The hashtag #EkPedMaaKeNaam featured prominently in CM Gupta's post, anchoring the local initiative within the broader national programme. The eradication of invasive species such as vilayati babul (Prosopis juliflora) has been a recurring demand from environmental groups in Delhi for years.

Stakeholders and Impact

Delhi's residents stand to benefit most directly from the initiative, given the ridge's role in moderating air quality, temperature, and biodiversity in a city that routinely ranks among the world's most polluted. Environmental groups have long argued that replacing invasive, water-intensive species with deep-rooted native trees is essential for restoring the ridge's ecological function.

The 5,000-hectare forest notification gives the designated area statutory protection, making encroachment and felling legally more difficult. The three-year plantation timeline, if adhered to, would see the full ridge progressively covered with native canopy, potentially improving the city's air quality and groundwater recharge over the long term.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to implementation — specifically, how quickly invasive species are cleared, how the native saplings are sourced and maintained, and whether subsequent forest notifications extend protection to the remaining ridge area beyond the initial 5,000 hectares. Progress reports on the plantation rollout and any revisions to Delhi's master plan to accommodate the expanded forest zone will be closely watched by urban ecologists and civic bodies alike.

The initiative signals an alignment between the Delhi government and the Union government on urban environmental policy — a notable development given the historically contentious relationship between the two over governance of the capital.