Green push on: 70 lakh trees, 22 depts

New Delhi: In a major push to expand green cover and tackle air pollution, the Delhi government has set an ambitious target of planting over 70 lakh trees, shrubs and bamboo hedges under the Green Action Plan (GAP) 2026-27, with 22 departments roped in for implementation.

Led by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the initiative aims to adopt a multi-layered plantation strategy combining tall trees, shrubs and ground cover to improve air quality and ecological balance.

Highlighting the approach, Sirsa said, “Our government is deploying a multi-pronged strategy not just to control pollution but to exponentially increase Delhi’s green cover. Last year, we achieved massive plantations with participation from students, citizens, bureaucrats, politicians… aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ campaign for a greener India.”

He further added, “Delhi’s air quality suffered for years due to the fake promises of previous governments. Under CM Rekha Gupta Ji’s leadership, our commitment to protecting air and building lasting green infrastructure remains the top priority.” As per revised targets, the Department of Forests and Wildlife will act as the nodal agency, overseeing progress through the GAP portal, with a target of over 27 lakh plantations. Other key contributors include the Delhi Development Authority (10 lakh), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (5 lakh), NDMC (5.05 lakh), and PWD (3 lakh), among others.