Vice President leads large-scale tree plantation drive in Delhi

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday led a major tree-planting initiative at Asita Ecological Park along the Yamuna River in Delhi. The event, part of the ‘Ek Ped Ma ke Naam’ campaign, aims to increase green cover and nurture the ecosystem, officials said. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) organised the drive, which saw participation from numerous agencies, students and civic groups.

An official statement revealed that as many as 1,11,111 seedlings were planted in multiple parks and green belts in Delhi. Vice President Dhankhar planted a Tabebuia Rosea seedling in honour of his mother Kesari Devi and his wife joined the effort by planting a seedling in honour of her mother Bhagvati Devi. Other notable figures including Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava also planted seedlings for their mothers.

Dhankhar spoke to over 250 school children and encouraged them to involve their families in the tree planting effort for a sustainable future. He stressed the need for environmental protection and called for broad participation in the campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ initiative on World Environment Day. The Vice President lauded the DDA’s work in transforming the once polluted Yamuna floodplain into a thriving biodiversity park.

(With input from agencies.)