Amit Shah to launch Delhi's 70 lakh tree plantation drive today
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah is set to personally inaugurate a 70-lakh-tree drive in Delhi — a campaign where NDMC alone has dug over 50,000 planting pits and completed 31 consecutive Sunday drives. The Council covers just 3% of Delhi's area yet claims 55% of its green cover, making Tuesday's launch a statement on urban greening at scale.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate Delhi's 70 lakh tree plantation drive on 7 July .
NDMC will support the drive with a Mega Tree Plantation Drive at 34 locations , targeting 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs .
More than 50,000 planting pits have already been prepared across the Council area.
Native species including Peepal , Neem , Jamun , and Gulmohar will be planted to support biodiversity.
NDMC has completed 31 consecutive Sunday drives under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
NDMC covers only 3% of Delhi's area but contributes nearly 55% of the capital's green cover.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Tuesday, 7 July inaugurate Delhi's ambitious campaign to plant 70 lakh trees, with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) backing the initiative through a Mega Tree Plantation Drive spanning 34 locations across the capital. The drive marks one of the largest single-day greening efforts undertaken in the city in recent years.
NDMC's Targets and Preparations
NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the Council has set a target of planting approximately 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs under this special campaign. More than 50,000 planting pits have already been prepared across the Council area ahead of the launch.
Native and environmentally sustainable species — including Peepal, Neem, Jamun, Imli, Champa, Ashoka, Gulmohar, and Amaltas — will be planted. Ornamental and native shrubs such as Hamelia, Justicia, Canna, Lily, and Murraya will also be introduced to enhance biodiversity and the aesthetic appeal of NDMC's green spaces.
Broad Participation Across Stakeholders
All NDMC Council Members, Heads of Departments, officers, and employees will take part in the drive by planting trees at different locations. Chahal noted that Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Traders Associations (MTAs), schools, institutions, and residents have been enthusiastic participants in NDMC's ongoing plantation efforts — making it, in his words, a genuine example of Jan Bhagidari (people's participation).
A Continuous Movement, Not a One-Day Event
Chahal emphasised that for NDMC, plantation is 'not merely a one-day programme but a continuous people's movement.' Under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam — On Sunday' campaign, the Council has already completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation drives. Plantation activities are also regularly carried out during national festivals, special occasions, and public events.
NDMC's Green Footprint in Delhi
NDMC currently maintains 1,450 acres of green spaces, comprising six iconic parks, 122 colony parks, 981 CPWD-maintained parks, 52 school green areas, 51 roundabouts, 14 market gardens, and nearly 15,000 avenue trees. Notably, despite covering only about 3 per cent of Delhi's geographical area, NDMC accounts for nearly 55 per cent of the capital's total green cover — positioning it as one of the greenest urban local bodies in the country. Tuesday's drive builds on that record and signals a broader push to address Delhi's persistent air quality and urban heat challenges.
Point of View
Not ceremonial drives — so the real question Tuesday's launch raises is accountability: how many of the 70 lakh saplings will survive past the monsoon season? NDMC's 55% green cover claim is impressive for a body covering 3% of the city, but the broader Delhi landscape remains severely tree-deficient. Ministerial inaugurations lend political visibility, but without sapling survival audits and multi-year maintenance commitments, large-scale plantation drives risk becoming photo opportunities. The 31-consecutive-Sunday cadence under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' is a more credible signal — the test is whether that discipline scales to the full 70-lakh target.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 70 lakh tree plantation drive in Delhi?
It is an ambitious campaign launched by the Delhi government on 7 July to plant 70 lakh trees across the capital, inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah. The NDMC is supporting it with a Mega Tree Plantation Drive at 34 locations, targeting 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs.
What role is NDMC playing in the plantation drive?
NDMC is organising the Mega Tree Plantation Drive at 34 locations as part of the larger 70 lakh tree campaign. The Council has prepared over 50,000 planting pits and will involve all its Council Members, department heads, officers, and employees in the effort.
Which tree species will be planted under the drive?
Native and environmentally sustainable species such as Peepal, Neem, Jamun, Imli, Champa, Ashoka, Gulmohar, and Amaltas will be planted. Ornamental shrubs including Hamelia, Justicia, Canna, Lily, and Murraya will also be added to boost biodiversity.
What is the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign?
It is an ongoing NDMC initiative that conducts plantation drives every Sunday. As of the launch of this drive, NDMC has completed 31 consecutive Sunday plantation sessions under this campaign, reflecting its commitment to year-round greening rather than one-off events.
How much green cover does NDMC maintain in Delhi?
NDMC maintains 1,450 acres of green spaces — including parks, roundabouts, school green areas, and avenue trees — and contributes nearly 55% of Delhi's total green cover, despite covering only about 3% of the city's geographical area.
