Delhi Ridge to get 1 crore saplings, legal protection, says Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched two green initiatives in the national capital on Tuesday. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, the Delhi government will plant 70 lakh saplings across the city in collaboration with residents. The second initiative involves planting over 1 crore saplings across 6,300 hectares of the Ridge to develop it into a forest area over the next four years and ensure its protection.

Addressing an event, Mr. Shah, who participated in plantation drives in the Central Ridge and Nanakpura Ridge areas during the day, said the Union and Delhi governments will work to rejuvenate the Ridge and help it become the lungs of Delhi by replacing invasive trees such as babul with native species like peepal, banyan, neem and jamun.

The plan also includes developing over 70 ponds, preserving archaeological structures and creating themed forests to encourage public engagement with nature, he said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was also present at the event, said work is on to develop five water bodies in the Ridge.

Highlighting efforts to protect the city’s tree cover, Mr. Shah said over the past year, the Delhi government had provided protection to 5,000 hectares in the Ridge by notifying its areas as reserved forests.

“For years, the Delhi Ridge had been overgrown with environmentally unfriendly trees. By giving legal protection to the Ridge, we aim to revive its biodiversity, soil, water and environment,” Mr. Shah said.

Doubts over execution

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav welcomed the announcements but questioned the Delhi government’s commitment to protecting trees while referring to the Forest Department’s recent decision to permit the transplanting of 1,049 trees and cutting down 42 more for a project in Sarojini Nagar.