Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Delhi government’s initiative to plant 70 lakh trees across 34 locations, aiming to turn the Ridge into the city’s “green lungs.” The event saw the planting of a sapling by Shah in the Central Ridge area, alongside other dignitaries like Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The campaign, supported by the New Delhi Municipal Council, targets the planting of 600 trees and 50,000 shrubs, with over 50,000 planting pits already prepared. Shah emphasized the need to replace thorny and poisonous trees on the Ridge with long-lasting species like ‘peepal’ and ‘neem’ to enhance Delhi’s environment.
Shah praised the government’s efforts in designating 5,000 hectares of the Ridge as forest area, with plans to protect the entire Ridge legally. The initiative aims to restore biodiversity, conserve soil and water resources, and rejuvenate Delhi’s environment over the next three years. Shah also commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative for environmental balance.
