The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a 70-lakh tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam” campaign.
It’s an ambitious plan for the restoration of Delhi’s elevated forest. On the program, 300 electric buses were flagged off, three electric bus depots and an automated vehicle testing station were inaugurated, and the virtual laying of the foundation stone for the high-security prison of Narela was done.
Initiating a plantation campaign in Central Ridge and Nanakpura Ridge.
Amit Shah said the ridge would be restored by revoking the kikar and babul and replacing them with native species.
Shah said, “Approximately 5000 hectares of ridge are now under legal forest protection.” After three decades, the proposal has been approved.
For the following three years, the government has a target to plant neem, banyan, jamun, arjun, and peepal trees across the national capital.
He included more than 70 water bodies and ponds that will be redeveloped, the conservation structure, and archeological and theme-based forests.
Shah added that the central and Delhi governments have aimed to develop 6,300 hectares of land into protected forest over the next 4 years.
Shah encouraged city dwellers to participate in the campaign. People could register on the Green Drive portal and plant a tree in their mother’s name under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
Saha attacked the previous AAP government over Yamuna pollution.
He alleged the previous government dumped around 1500 metric tons of cattle dung into the Yamuna River every day.
He disclosed the Delhi government will sign an agreement with the National Dairy Development Board to convert cattle dung into biogas and organic manure. The previous year, around 129 sewage treatment plants had been built, and another 59 would be added.
The Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, announced the oxygen park in Delhi. She said the work has started on ecological restoration. It is possible to pursue development while protecting nature.
She announced a plan to develop 100 oxygen parks across Delhi, following the Gujarat model, and work has started on 18 parks. The government will also provide financial assistance to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to improve and maintain neighborhood parks.
