Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah launched a mass plantation drive and inaugurated development projects in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency of Gujarat. The initiative saw over 1 crore trees planted in the Gandhinagar constituency alone today, with an additional 50 lakh trees planted across Ahmedabad city. The campaign aims to create a greener environment, ensure clean air and pure water, and preserve a high-quality, livable Earth.
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have planted over seven crore trees across the country over the past seven years. The trees planted are native to India's ecological conditions and include species with a lifespan of more than 100 years. The Gandhinagar region previously had 12 Oxygen Parks, while 61 new Oxygen Parks were inaugurated today, taking the total to 73 in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation inaugurated 101 Oxygen Parks in a single day.
The plantation drive has resulted in Sanand, Gandhinagar, Kalol and Ahmedabad collectively increasing green cover by 11.23% in the constituency, with a resolution to increase it to 20% by 2029. The campaign is expected to reduce Ahmedabad's temperature by at least 5% compared to other cities in coming years. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has introduced a special vehicle service to deliver saplings directly to citizens' homes.
Development projects worth ₹28,492 crore have been completed in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, including ₹7,030 crore in Ghatlodia, ₹2,670 crore in Vejalpur, ₹2,149 crore in Sabarmati, ₹3,262 crore in Naranpura, ₹2,800 crore in Sanand, ₹4,300 crore in Gandhinagar North and ₹2,003 crore in Kalol. Additionally, 325 new AMTS and BRTS buses were inaugurated to help reduce carbon emissions, with Ahmedabad now having no pollution-causing buses following the inauguration.
Gandhinagar has the highest number of solar rooftop installations among all Lok Sabha constituencies. The Home Minister urged residents to ensure no house, apartment or rooftop remains without solar rooftop installation and to plant trees in every corner of housing societies.