Amit Shah, CM Patel plant saplings under AMC's Mission Five Million Trees in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel showed up in force for AMC's Mission Five Million Trees in Ahmedabad — planting saplings at two sites, including the NDDB-managed Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, and tying the drive to PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. The real test, as always, is whether the saplings survive past the photo-op.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah and CM Bhupendra Patel participated in two tree plantation drives in Ahmedabad on 12 July .
Both programmes were held under AMC's Mission Five Million Trees initiative.
The second site was the Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala plot managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) .
The drives were linked to PM Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
Participants pledged to make the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency greener and more sustainable.
Thousands of trees were planted across both venues with participation from citizens, volunteers, and senior civic officials.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday, 12 July participated in two mass tree plantation drives in Ahmedabad under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) flagship Mission Five Million Trees initiative, reinforcing the city's push to expand its urban green cover.
Where the Drives Were Held
The first plantation programme took place at an AMC plot near Applewood, where Shah and Patel planted saplings under the theme of building a 'Green Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency'. The two leaders then moved to the Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala plot managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), where thousands of trees were planted in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
What the AMC Said
'The Mission Five Million Trees campaign aims to expand the city's green cover, maintain ecological balance and create public awareness about planting and nurturing trees,' the civic body said in a statement. Organisers added that conservation of nature is 'not only a moral and social responsibility but also an integral part of India's cultural values.'
Key Officials and Community Participation
The events drew wide participation from environmentalists, voluntary organisations, citizens, and young volunteers. Among the dignitaries present were Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, NDDB Chairman Minesh Shah, Ahmedabad BJP President Prerak Shah, and MLAs Amit Thaker, Babu Patel, and Jitendra Patel, along with corporators and civic officials.
The Broader Goal
Participants at both venues pledged to work towards making the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency greener, cleaner, and more environmentally sustainable. Organisers appealed to citizens to plant more trees and commit to their long-term care through community participation, describing individual efforts as 'a step towards a healthier and more sustainable city.'
The dual plantation drives signal an intensifying political and civic push around urban greening in Gujarat ahead of what observers note is a period of heightened environmental awareness campaigns nationally. Whether the five-million-tree target translates into lasting canopy cover will depend on post-plantation maintenance — historically the weak link in such civic drives.
Point of View
But India's urban greening record is patchy — survival rates for mass-planted saplings often fall below 50% without structured follow-up. AMC's five-million-tree target is ambitious for a city that already battles heat-island effects and shrinking open land. Tying the drive to PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign gives it national branding, but the Gandhinagar constituency framing also underscores how environmental campaigns in India are rarely separated from electoral geography. The measure of success here will not be the number of saplings put in the ground on a Sunday morning — it will be the canopy count two years from now.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AMC's Mission Five Million Trees?
Mission Five Million Trees is an initiative by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation aimed at expanding the city's urban green cover, maintaining ecological balance, and building public awareness around tree planting and conservation. The campaign encourages community participation in both planting and long-term care of trees.
Where did the 12 July plantation drives take place?
Two drives were held — one at an AMC plot near Applewood and another at the Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala plot managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Ahmedabad. Both events were part of the Mission Five Million Trees initiative.
What is PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) is a nationwide campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraging citizens to plant a tree as a tribute to their mothers. The Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala plantation drive on 12 July was held in support of this campaign.
Who attended the Ahmedabad tree plantation events?
Senior attendees included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, NDDB Chairman Minesh Shah, Ahmedabad BJP President Prerak Shah, and MLAs Amit Thaker, Babu Patel, and Jitendra Patel, along with corporators and civic officials.
What was the theme of the Applewood plantation drive?
The plantation programme near Applewood carried the theme of creating a 'Green Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency', with participants pledging to make the constituency greener, cleaner, and more environmentally sustainable.
