Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a sapling plantation drive and launched the Aravalli Green Wall project on June 5, 2025 [1].
These initiatives represent a push by the Indian government to combat desertification and promote sustainable development through large-scale reforestation. By linking personal sentiment to environmental action, the administration aims to mobilize citizens to contribute to a greener national landscape.
The event took place as part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, which encourages people to plant trees in honor of their mothers [2]. The campaign seeks to foster a deeper connection between citizens and nature, while addressing the urgent need for increased forest cover across the country [2].
Concurrent with the planting drive, the Prime Minister introduced the Aravalli Green Wall project. This reforestation initiative is designed to create a green belt stretching 700 km [3]. The project targets the Aravalli range, focusing on restoring the ecosystem to prevent the expansion of desert land and protect biodiversity [3].
Reports on the specific location of the day's activities varied. Some sources placed the event in Surat, Gujarat [4], while other reports indicated the launch occurred at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in New Delhi [3].
Government officials said the drive is intended to showcase a commitment to environmental protection. The combined efforts of the national plantation drive and the Aravalli project are intended to mitigate the effects of climate change, and improve air quality in the region [2], [3].
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a sapling plantation drive and launched the Aravalli Green Wall project.”
The launch of the Aravalli Green Wall signals a strategic shift toward using massive biological barriers to stop the encroachment of the Thar Desert. By combining a high-profile reforestation project with a grassroots emotional campaign like ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,’ the Indian government is attempting to blend infrastructure-scale environmental engineering with public behavioral change to meet international climate goals.
