Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 June 2025 marked World Environment Day by planting a sapling in Surat, Gujarat, as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign — a nationwide afforestation initiative he first launched on World Environment Day in 2024. The visit also included a detailed review of major industrial and infrastructure projects in the Hazira belt.

About the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign

The initiative invites citizens across India to plant a tree as a tribute to their mothers, combining environmental responsibility with a personal, familial gesture. Since its launch in 2024, the programme has grown into a large-scale mass movement aimed at expanding green cover and deepening ecological awareness among the public.

In Surat, the Prime Minister's visit catalysed city-wide participation, with plantation drives reported across multiple locations. Civic bodies and community organisations joined the effort, reflecting the campaign's broader goal of mainstreaming sustainable urban practices.

Industrial Review at Hazira

As part of the Gujarat visit, Prime Minister Modi undertook a comprehensive review of ongoing operations at the Hazira industrial belt — a region that has emerged as a significant hub for heavy engineering, advanced manufacturing, and defence production. According to officials, the review covered project progress, operational efficiency, and ongoing expansion work at key industrial installations in the area.

Officials noted that Hazira's industrial ecosystem plays a strategic role in India's defence and manufacturing supply chain, with current development focused on enhancing production capacity and improving logistics connectivity in the region.

What the Government Said

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi conveyed the Prime Minister's appeal to citizens during the visit. Sanghavi said: 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to all citizens of the country to save petrol and diesel and to make maximum use of public transportation. He has also urged people to use bicycles and walk for short-distance travel, such as going to offices and for other daily activities.'

The message underscored a broader push toward green mobility and reduced dependence on fossil fuels — themes consistent with India's commitments under its national climate action framework.

Significance and What Comes Next

This is the second consecutive year Modi has personally marked World Environment Day with a symbolic plantation act under the same initiative, signalling its institutionalisation as a government-led annual campaign. The Hazira review, meanwhile, points to the Centre's continued emphasis on industrial self-reliance and defence manufacturing capacity.

As the campaign scales further, officials are expected to report aggregate plantation numbers nationwide in the coming days, with state governments coordinating follow-up drives through the monsoon season.