Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, has welcomed and commended the Delhi Government's ambitious afforestation initiative in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta. The Minister specifically praised the plan to plant over 70 lakh indigenous and climate-resilient trees, develop more than 70 water bodies, and notify nearly 6,000 hectares of land as forest area, describing these measures as significant steps toward strengthening Delhi's ecological security and improving urban air quality.
The Minister particularly welcomed the proposal to replace invasive species such as Vilayati Kikar and Babool with indigenous species including Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Arjun, and Jamun, noting that this would transform the Delhi Ridge into the "lungs of Delhi" and create a healthier urban environment.
Highlighting the integration of environmental conservation with public health and traditional medicine systems, Shri Jadhav proposed that at least 20% of the plantation in the proposed eight forests be devoted to medicinal plant species, or alternatively, that a minimum of two forests be developed as dedicated Medicinal Forests (Aushadhi Vans). This initiative would create a sustainable source of quality raw material for the Ayush sector, promote biodiversity conservation, strengthen ecological restoration efforts, and encourage eco-tourism in the National Capital Region.
The Ministry provided an indicative list of medicinal plant species suitable for Delhi's agro-climatic conditions, including Ashwagandha, Giloy, Tulsi, Brahmi, Shatavari, Amla, Arjun, Ashok, Neem, Bel, and Jamun. The Minister expressed confidence that this initiative would serve as a model for integrating urban afforestation with India's traditional systems of medicine and environmental stewardship.