Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Sirsa, Harsh Malhotra plant saplings at PBG Ground
Synopsis
Delhi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign has crossed 50 lakh plantings toward a 70 lakh target, with Ministers Sirsa and Harsh Malhotra marking the drive at PBG Ground. The campaign's focus on restoring Delhi's three ridge zones — the city's primary green lungs — sets it apart from earlier plantation announcements that lacked a clear ecological focus.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and BJP Delhi President Harsh Malhotra planted saplings at PBG Ground on 20 August under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
50 lakh trees and saplings have been planted under the campaign so far, including 15 lakh by the Forest Department.
The campaign targets 70 lakh saplings across Delhi; as of 3 August , 37,99,583 saplings (about 54% of the target) had been planted.
The drive was launched on 7 July by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at 51 locations simultaneously across the city.
Ridge restoration is a key focus: targets include 28.42 lakh trees and 11.54 lakh shrubs across the Central, DDA, and Southern Ridges.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi President Harsh Malhotra on Thursday, 20 August joined the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign by planting tree saplings at PBG Ground in New Delhi. The event is part of a citywide drive targeting 70 lakh saplings across the national capital.
Key Developments
Speaking at the event, Harsh Malhotra credited the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta-led BJP government for what he described as 'all-round, 360-degree development' since it assumed power in Delhi. He specifically contrasted the current administration's environmental efforts with those of previous governments, which he alleged 'only made noise and engaged in a blame game in the name of the environment, but did nothing.'
Sirsa confirmed that 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' — the second phase of the plantation campaign originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — was initiated in Delhi under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's leadership. He added that 50 lakh trees and saplings have been planted under the campaign so far, of which 15 lakh were planted by the Forest Department alone.
Campaign Progress So Far
According to the Delhi government's Delhi Green Warriors progress report, a total of 37,99,583 saplings had been planted as of 3 August, comprising 17,13,350 trees and 20,86,233 shrubs. That figure represented nearly 54% of the 70 lakh target. On 3 August alone, authorities planted 87,589 saplings in a single day.
The campaign was formally launched on 7 July by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with simultaneous plantation drives held at 51 locations across the city.
Focus on Ridge Restoration
A central pillar of the campaign is the restoration of Delhi's ridge areas. The government has set a target of planting 28.42 lakh trees and 11.54 lakh shrubs across the Central Ridge, DDA Ridge, and Southern Ridge. Progress as of the latest data shows 2,73,690 saplings planted in the Central Ridge, 33,706 in the DDA Ridge, and 8,46,968 in the Southern Ridge.
What This Means for Delhi's Green Cover
Delhi has long grappled with poor air quality and diminishing green cover, making large-scale plantation drives a recurring policy priority across administrations. The current campaign's emphasis on ridge restoration is notable, given that Delhi's ridge forests serve as the city's primary green lung and have faced sustained encroachment pressure over decades. Whether the saplings planted translate into long-term tree cover will depend on post-plantation survival monitoring — a metric the government has not yet publicly detailed.
With the campaign now past the halfway mark, officials are expected to ramp up plantation activity in the coming weeks to meet the 70 lakh target before the drive concludes.
Point of View
But without a published survival-monitoring framework, the 70 lakh figure risks becoming another statistic without canopy. The political framing — contrasting the current government with predecessors — is standard fare, but the real accountability test will come in two to three years when satellite green-cover data either validates or quietly buries the claim.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign in Delhi?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' is a tree plantation drive originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, now in its second phase in Delhi under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The Delhi campaign aims to plant 70 lakh saplings across the city, with a particular focus on restoring the Central, DDA, and Southern Ridge areas.
How many trees have been planted under the campaign so far?
As of the latest figures cited by Delhi Minister Sirsa, 50 lakh trees and saplings have been planted under the campaign, including 15 lakh by the Forest Department. An earlier progress report dated 3 August put the figure at 37,99,583 saplings — roughly 54% of the 70 lakh target.
Who launched the Delhi tree plantation campaign and when?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah formally launched the campaign on 7 July in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with simultaneous plantation drives at 51 locations across Delhi.
What is the focus on Delhi's ridge areas?
The government has set a target of planting 28.42 lakh trees and 11.54 lakh shrubs across the Central Ridge, DDA Ridge, and Southern Ridge. So far, 2,73,690 saplings have been planted in the Central Ridge, 33,706 in the DDA Ridge, and 8,46,968 in the Southern Ridge.
Who participated in the 20 August plantation event at PBG Ground?
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and BJP Delhi President Harsh Malhotra participated in the plantation event at PBG Ground on 20 August as part of the ongoing 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
