Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Mission 70 Lakh Plantation Campaign under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative in New Delhi, marking the beginning of comprehensive environmental development projects for the capital city. The campaign launches the Delhi Ridge Rejuvenation Campaign, addressing the 30-year pending final notification of the Delhi Ridge first notified in 1994, with the Delhi Government now declaring 5,000 hectares of the Ridge area as legally protected forest land.
Under the Ridge rejuvenation plan, environmentally unfavorable trees including Babul will be removed and replaced with native, long-lived species such as Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Arjun, and Jamun, many with lifespans exceeding 100 years. The government plans to develop 6,300 hectares of green Ridge area into protected forest land over the next four years, planting over 1 crore native plants including 65 lakh plants that grow into large trees and 65 lakh other plants. The initiative will include developing eight special art-themed forests (Nakshatra Van, Mel Van, Rishi Van, Tirthankar Van, Shankar Van, Vaman Vriksha Van, and Purani Vatika), restoring more than 70 ponds and water bodies, and preserving archaeological structures within the Ridge area.
The Yamuna river purification effort involves addressing the previous practice of dumping approximately 1,500 metric tonnes of cow dung daily into the river. Through an upcoming agreement with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), this dung will be processed into biogas and organic manure, ensuring no dung enters the Yamuna. Additionally, 129 sewage treatment plants (STPs) are currently operational across Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with 59 new STPs expected to be completed by end-2027, all delivering treated water meeting prescribed standards into the Yamuna.
Infrastructure developments include the launch of 300 electric buses under Delhi's Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, inauguration of three newly built bus depots, e-inauguration of 40 automated vehicle testing centers, and laying the foundation stone for a High-Security Prison at Narela. The Delhi Government has launched the Green Drive Portal to provide free saplings and encourage citizen participation in tree plantation, supported by the Vriksh Rath and Nursery Locator facilities.
The comprehensive environmental effort includes the Working Plan Document (2026-2036), Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary Management Plan, and Delhi's Biodiversity Atlas, collectively aimed at reviving Delhi's entire green ecosystem and realizing the vision of a Green Delhi.