Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the mass tree plantation programme under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Mission 5 million Trees along with various development projects in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries.
Over one crore trees were planted by citizens in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency alone on the day of inauguration, 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 initiative has evolved from a slogan into a people's movement inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and his mantra of 'People, Planet with Progress'.
The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have planted over seven crore trees across the country over the past seven years, with a large-scale tree plantation drive also undertaken in Delhi two days prior. 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.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation introduced a special vehicle service under a scientific initiative to deliver saplings directly to the homes of citizens who wish to plant trees. The campaign is expected to reduce Ahmedabad's temperature by at least 5 percent compared to other cities in the coming years. Sanand, Gandhinagar, Kalol and Ahmedabad city have together increased green cover by 11.23 percent in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and have resolved to increase it to 20 percent by 2029.
Gandhinagar has the highest number of solar rooftop installations among all Lok Sabha constituencies. The Union Home Minister urged residents of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to ensure complete solar rooftop coverage. Twenty-two development projects were inaugurated and foundation stones for seven projects were laid, including 325 new AMTS and BRTS buses that will help reduce carbon emissions. Following the inauguration, Ahmedabad will no longer have any pollution-causing buses.
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.