Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu led a mega plantation drive at Kamla Nehru Ridge to plant 100,000 native saplings [1].
The initiative aims to restore the ecology of the ridge area by transforming environmental conservation into a public movement involving youth and students. By focusing on native species, the effort seeks to create a sustainable urban forest that can withstand local climate conditions.
Organized by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the drive brought together college and school students to participate in the planting process. Sandhu said the goal is to involve the public in a people's movement for environmental sustainability.
To prevent the failure of the initiative, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized the need for rigorous follow-up. The DDA has set up nodal officers specifically to monitor the survival of the newly planted trees [1]. This oversight mechanism is intended to ensure that the saplings are not simply planted and forgotten, but are nurtured to maturity.
The drive focuses on the Kamla Nehru Ridge, a critical green lung for the city. The integration of students in the process is intended to foster a sense of ecological responsibility among the younger generation.
Sandhu said the restoration of the ridge is essential for the city's broader environmental health. The use of native saplings is expected to support local biodiversity, and improve the overall resilience of the urban ecosystem [1].
“100,000 native saplings”
This initiative represents a shift from symbolic planting events to a management-based approach to urban forestry. By appointing nodal officers for survival monitoring, the Delhi government is addressing the high mortality rate often associated with large-scale urban plantation drives, signaling a priority for long-term ecological viability over short-term numerical targets.
