NDMC V-C Kuljeet Singh Chahal leads 32nd plantation drive at Gole Market
Synopsis
Thirty-two Sundays in, the NDMC's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign shows no signs of slowing down. Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal took the drive to Gole Market, combining sapling planting with on-the-spot civic grievance resolution — a dual-purpose outreach that blends environmental goals with ground-level governance.
Key Takeaways
NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal led the 32nd consecutive edition of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam On Sunday' drive on 12 July .
The plantation event was held at Central Government Employees RWA, Blocks 49–55, Kali Bari Marg, Gole Market , New Delhi.
Chahal also engaged residents under the 'Good Governance at Your Doorstep' initiative, addressing civic grievances on the spot.
NDMC has a year-long Green Calendar scheduling Sunday plantation drives across New Delhi, with seven departments coordinating upkeep.
The campaign has expanded beyond residential areas to include universities, embassies, and institutions.
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Sunday, 12 July led the 32nd consecutive edition of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam On Sunday' plantation campaign at Gole Market, planting saplings alongside residents and engaging with local civic bodies under a parallel good-governance initiative.
What Happened at Gole Market
Chahal planted saplings together with residents of the Central Government Employees RWA, Blocks 49–55, Type-III, Kali Bari Marg, Gole Market. A large number of local residents joined the drive, planting saplings in honour of their mothers — the emotional premise at the heart of the campaign.
The event was attended by RWA Patron Pawan Kumar, President Krishna Kumar, Vice President Bhairav Nath, General Secretary Laxmi Kumar, Treasurer Ajay Vajpayee, and members including Deepak Ahir, Priyanka, Vikram Singh Negi, and Anil Chaudhary, among several other residents.
Chahal's Address to Residents
Speaking at the gathering, Chahal described the campaign as more than a routine greening exercise. 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam is not merely a plantation drive; it is a people's movement of emotional connect, social responsibility, and environmental conservation. Every sapling planted in honour of our mothers symbolises our gratitude towards Mother Nature and lays a strong foundation for a safe, clean, and green future for the coming generations,' he said.
He also stressed that planting alone is insufficient, urging citizens to water and protect their saplings until they mature into full-grown trees.
Good Governance at the Doorstep
Alongside the plantation drive, Chahal engaged with RWA office-bearers under the 'Good Governance at Your Doorstep' initiative, listening to civic grievances from residents and directing concerned officers to ensure prompt, time-bound resolution of each issue.
NDMC's Year-Long Green Calendar
Chahal informed attendees that NDMC has prepared a year-long Green Calendar under which plantation drives will be held every Sunday across different parts of New Delhi. He said the Horticulture, Health, Civil Engineering, Roads, Water Supply, Drainage, and Electricity Departments will coordinate to ensure proper maintenance and healthy growth of planted saplings.
NDMC has also been conducting large-scale plantation programmes in collaboration with universities, embassies, and various institutions, extending the campaign's reach beyond residential neighbourhoods. With 32 consecutive Sundays now completed, the campaign is being positioned as a sustained civic movement rather than a one-off environmental gesture.
Point of View
And the NDMC deserves credit for sustaining public participation. Yet the real metric — survival rate of planted saplings — remains unaddressed in official communications. Urban plantation drives in Indian cities have historically suffered high sapling mortality due to inadequate follow-up care. Chahal's own remarks acknowledged this gap, urging citizens to water and protect saplings, but the onus cannot rest solely on residents. Whether NDMC's multi-department Green Calendar translates into verifiable canopy growth, rather than just planting tallies, will determine if this movement leaves a lasting environmental mark or remains a well-intentioned weekly ritual.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam On Sunday' campaign?
It is a weekly plantation drive run by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) that invites residents to plant saplings in honour of their mothers. The campaign, aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader environmental push, completed its 32nd consecutive Sunday edition on 12 July 2025.
Where was the 32nd edition of the plantation drive held?
The 32nd edition was held at the Central Government Employees RWA, Blocks 49–55, Type-III, Kali Bari Marg, Gole Market, New Delhi. NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal led the event alongside local residents and RWA representatives.
What is NDMC's Green Calendar?
NDMC's Green Calendar is a year-long schedule of Sunday plantation drives planned across different parts of New Delhi. Seven departments — Horticulture, Health, Civil Engineering, Roads, Water Supply, Drainage, and Electricity — are tasked with coordinating maintenance and ensuring the healthy growth of planted saplings.
What is the 'Good Governance at Your Doorstep' initiative?
It is an NDMC outreach programme under which senior officials like Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal interact directly with RWA office-bearers and residents to hear civic grievances and direct officers to resolve them in a prompt, time-bound manner.
How far has the campaign expanded beyond weekly drives?
According to NDMC, the campaign has grown to include large-scale plantation programmes in collaboration with universities, embassies, and various institutions, broadening its reach beyond residential neighbourhoods across New Delhi.
