Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day announced that nearly one lakh saplings were being planted across Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, framing the drive as a direct expression of sustainable development. The plantation push ran alongside the inauguration and foundation-laying of development projects worth thousands of crores in the Union Territory.

Key Developments

Addressing the gathering, Modi said the dual focus on infrastructure investment and ecological restoration was intentional. 'Development is important for us, but it is equally important that our model of development is sustainable. Along with the inauguration and foundation laying of development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees, nearly one lakh saplings are also being planted here,' he said.

The Prime Minister described the plantation drive as a reflection of the Union Territory administration's commitment to balancing economic progress with environmental protection — a theme he has consistently pushed under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' framework, which encourages citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers.

Diu's Solar Energy Milestone

Modi singled out Diu for particular praise, noting that the island territory had already achieved a landmark by meeting its entire daytime electricity requirement through solar power. 'I am proud that this is a Union Territory which has achieved the milestone of using 100 per cent solar energy in government buildings,' he said.

He added that the administration is now scaling up rooftop solar initiatives to enable households to generate electricity and earn additional income by feeding surplus power back into the grid — a move aligned with the Centre's broader PM Surya Ghar rooftop solar push.

Cleanliness and Community Participation

Beyond the plantation drive, Modi commended residents of Daman for running parallel cleanliness campaigns. 'I have also been told that the people of Daman are currently running a cleanliness campaign. This reflects how cleanliness has become a part of the culture and way of life here,' he noted.

The Prime Minister argued that environmental stewardship should not be treated as a standalone objective but as a central pillar of all development planning — a position that echoes India's stated commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement.

What the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign Is

Launched by Modi as a nationwide initiative, 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' — meaning 'One Tree in Mother's Name' — calls on citizens across India to plant at least one tree as a tribute to their mothers while contributing to the country's green cover targets. The campaign has been rolled out across multiple states and Union Territories, with World Environment Day serving as a key activation moment.

Modi called on citizens to sustain participation through tree planting, renewable energy adoption, and community-led cleanliness drives, signalling that these themes will remain central to the government's development narrative going forward.