India, July 8 -- The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Tuesday launched its Mega Plantation Drive 2026 across 34 locations, planting over 612 trees and 50,200 shrubs as part of the nationwide 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign to strengthen the Capital's green cover. The drive witnessed participation from Delhi Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, NDMC Chairman Keshav Chandra, Vice-Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal, NDMC members, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Traders Associations (MTAs), educational institutions and civil society organisations. Saplings were planted at prominent locations, including Children's Park near India Gate, Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden and Central Park in Connaught Place. NDMC said it had prepared over 50,000 plantation pits in advance and surpassed its plantation target during the campaign. Also Read - Balcony of luxury society flat collapses in Gurugram; residents demand 'structural audit' The civic body planted native species such as peepal, neem, jamun, imli, champa, ashoka, gulmohar and amaltas, along with ornamental shrubs aimed at improving biodiversity and air quality. Representatives of participating organisations stressed the need to ensure the survival of newly planted saplings. Neetu, associated with the Inner Wheel Mayur Vihar Foundation, said plantation drives should be complemented with regular maintenance and dedicated workers to protect young plants. Dheeraj of Trinity Foundation said the organisation was supporting the government's target of planting around 73 lakh saplings across Delhi under the campaign and added that arrangements were being made to monitor sapling survival. BJP MLA Jitender Dedha said the campaign sought to encourage citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers while promoting environmental conservation. He claimed that nearly 70 lakh trees had already been planted across Delhi under the initiative, citing government figures.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.