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Indian Express
08-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Tree ambulances to bamboo barriers: NDMC's vision for a greener Delhi
Multiple campaigns, smart watering systems, and tree ambulances are at the heart of an extensive plantation drive launched Monday by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to expand the city's green cover. Initiatives such as 'Gap Filling Campaign' and 'End-to-End Green Cover' have been kicked off, aimed at eliminating brown patches across 80 major roads, junctions, and roundabouts. It is expected to reduce air pollution. 'Places where there was no green cover at all earlier, or where digging has taken place, have been identified as brown patches,' said an official. NDMC Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said in a press conference that the civic body will now use a 'smart watering' system to save water. 'A drip irrigation system will be in place. Water sprinklers, like the one present in Nehru Park, will be set up in other lawns and gardens,' the official explained. Chahal also announced that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' 3,000 trees, 35 lakh shrubs, and 3,946 bamboo plants will be planted across 89 sites. To keep the already planted trees healthy and safe, a tree ambulance has been deployed. 'The Plant Protection Cell at Lodhi Garden is equipped to conduct tree surgeries, termite and pest control, and soil treatments, supported by a dedicated team of one supervisor and four staff members,' Chahal said. The prominent places included in the plantation drive are Shankar Road, Hailey Road, Barakhamba Road, Feroz Shah Road, Janpath, Mahadev Road, Sansad Marg, KG Marg, Peshwa Road, Tansen Marg, Udyan Marg, Bangla Sahib Road, RK Ashram Marg, Tilak Marg, Maulana Azad Road, Akbar Road, Panchsheel Marg, among others. Tree species selected for plantation include varieties such as Arjun, Peepal, Champa, Jamun, Imli, Neem, Cassia Fistula (Amaltas), Ashoka, Khirni, Silver Oak, Harsingar, and Gulmohar. Shrub species include Murraya, Hemelia, Karonda, Bougainvillea, Calliandra, Justicia, Canna, and other patterned varieties. The bamboo plants of Golden and Budha Valley will be planted at four selected locations — Akbar Road, Subramanium Bharti Marg, Krishna Menon Marg, and Mandir Marg. 'These will be planted along boundary walls to act as natural green screens and enhance biodiversity,' Chahal said. 'Despite covering only 3% of Delhi's total geographical area, NDMC contributes nearly 55% of the city's green cover,' Chahal said, adding that efforts are made by the civic body to keep the tag of the 'greenest urban local body in the country.' The plan also includes installing 4,000 flower hanging baskets made from biodegradable coconut shells and promoting rooftop gardening. Chahal added that the civic body plans to construct nine new decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Bapu Dham, Nehru Park, Akbar Road, AIIMS, among other places. The civic body plans to rope in Union Ministers, foreign embassies, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Market Traders Associations (MTAs), Bar Associations, hospitals, private institutions, as well as both government and private schools. Meanwhile, on July 27, 240 trees and 36,200 shrubs will be planted across 20 key locations to mark the festival of Hariyali Teej.
The Print
07-07-2025
- General
- The Print
NDMC unveils plantation drive under ‘Ek ped maa ke naam'; targets 3,000 trees, 35 lakh shrubs
'The NDMC is undertaking a massive 'Gap Filling' campaign to ensure continuous green cover along 80 major roads this year — far beyond the 2-4 roads covered in earlier years,' the statement said. According to an official statement issued on Monday by the office of NDMC vice chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal, he unveiled the plan at a press conference held on Monday at Palika Kendra. The drive officially commenced on April 1 and has already covered 89 sites across six horticulture divisions. New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has rolled out a comprehensive plantation action plan under the Prime Minister's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, with an ambitious target of planting 3,000 trees, 35 lakh shrubs and 3,946 bamboo plants across the capital's central zone. The campaign aims to eliminate barren patches and reduce air pollution by targeting particulate matter levels (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1). The plan also includes the installation of 4,000 hanging flower baskets made from biodegradable coconut shells, enhancement of watering practices through smart irrigation systems, and the promotion of rooftop and organic gardening across NDMC areas. To further bolster green infrastructure, nine new decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be constructed at sites including Nehru Park, AIIMS and Akbar Road. As part of a special drive on Hariyali Teej, which falls on July 27 this year, the NDMC plans to plant 240 trees and over 36,000 shrubs in a single day at 20 prominent locations. The bamboo plantation initiative will focus on four roads — Akbar Road, Mandir Marg, Krishna Menon Marg and Subramanium Bharti Marg — where nearly 4,000 bamboo plants will serve as natural green screens. The statement also highlighted the NDMC's claim of being the greenest urban local body in India, maintaining over 1,150 acres of green space while contributing 55 per cent of Delhi's total green cover, despite comprising only three per cent of the city's land area. 'The NDMC remains committed to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of a greener and more sustainable Viksit Bharat @2047,' the statement concluded. PTI MHS KSS KSS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Delhi: NDMC's two-day ‘Mango Festival' enthrals diplomats, fruit lovers
A large number of visitors, including diplomats, bureaucrats, and mango lovers from across the city, joined activities centred around the king of fruits on the last day of the New Delhi Municipal Council's two-day 'Khaas-ye-Aam' mango festival, an official said on Sunday. NDMC Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the festival provides a unique platform for cultural exchange and culinary enjoyment. Chahal said that under the visionary goals of Viksit Bharat @2047, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDMC Mango Festival served as a platform for empowering farmers, promoting agri-innovation, and celebrating India's agricultural diversity. By bringing together over 500 mango varieties from across the nation, and providing direct exposure to farmer societies, research institutes, and vendors, the festival embodied the spirit of self-reliant India, he said. A representative of the research institute has said that in the next few days, a special breed of mango will be developed and will be named as 'Sindoor' in memory of Operation Sindoor, he said. Over 300 varieties of mangoes by two government research institutes and the growers/farmer societies were on display at the festival. 'Khaas-ye-Aam' mango festival started at the Palika Services Officers' Institute (PSOI), Vinay Marg, Chanakyapuri, and offered free entry to visitors. PSOI Secretary Krishan Kumar said that 25 mango sellers/vendors will set up their stalls for selling mango products at the festival. Some of the varieties of mangoes displayed include – Arunika, Ambika, Sansesan, Tomy, Fajali, Langra, Lucknowa Safeda, Kachcha Meetha, Dudhiya Gola, Matka Gola, Safeda Amin, Desi Kism, Desi Gola, Desi Tuharu, Munjar Amin, Kism Azad, Gulab Khas, Gulab Jamun, Dashari, Amrpali, Hathi jhool, Malika and Chausa. Participants and government research institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow, displayed around 250 varieties with leading varieties like Dashehari, Langra, Chausa, Mallika, Amrapali, Amiga, Arunica and several other varieties and hybrids. ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, displayed its own varieties, including Pusa Lalima, one of the colour varieties. A total of 10 farmers' societies and individuals displayed more than 100 varieties on each stall in the Mango Festival, said Krishan Kumar. He said there was a competition between participants on the different varieties of each farmer, such as Dashehari, Mallika, Amrapali, Chausa, Ramkela and mixed fruits. There were various entertainment and recreational activities for visitors and children. A major attraction of the Mango Festival for the visitors was 10 stalls of mango products, including preparations, recipes, products, juices, shakes, chutney, murabba, pickles, which will be represented by farmers, cooperative societies, vendors and leading restaurants and hotels. The Mango Festival is a part of NDMC's continuing efforts to promote cultural and seasonal festivities that bring communities together and celebrate India's rich agricultural diversity, said Chahal. The event offered an exciting opportunity to sample and purchase a wide array of mango varieties sourced from across the country, along with value-added mango-based products such as juices, pickles, pulps, and desserts.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Delhi: NDMC officials address 120 civic grievances at special camp
New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officers on Sunday addressed over 120 grievances received at a 'Suvidha Camp' organised at the Convention Centre, Jai Singh Road, said an official. The Camp aimed to provide a direct interface between the NDMC administration and the residents of New Delhi, facilitating prompt resolution of public grievances, dissemination of civic information, and ease of access to various municipal services. During the Camp, the 120 grievances addressed by senior officers pertained to various departments, including Personnel, Civil Engineering, Horticulture, Public Health, Enforcement, Commercial, Tax, and Estate. In addition, hundreds of residents and service users visited the Camp to seek information on NDMC's civic services and ongoing initiatives. The unique feature of the Suvidha Camp was its face-to-face interaction model, allowing citizens to engage directly with department officials for immediate redressal of concerns, said the official. For issues requiring policy-level interventions, the officials provided clarifications along with the expected timelines for resolution. More than 100 officers and officials from 30 NDMC departments were present at the Camp, manning departmental help desks under the supervision of their respective Heads of Departments. This collaborative approach ensured that most grievances could be addressed on the spot, reflecting NDMC's dedication to responsive and transparent governance. To further enhance citizen convenience, NDMC has also launched the 'Jan Suvidha Portal', a digital platform for seamless, contactless grievance redressal. Citizens can lodge grievances, track their status, and provide feedback through the portal available at: Earlier, NDMC Kuljeet Singh Chahal announced that the civic agency had approved the procurement of 5 eco-friendly CNG Mechanical Road Sweepers (MRS) to combat dust pollution and enhance cleanliness. The existing fleet of MRS machines, deployed in 2017–18, has aged and is frequently out of service, severely affecting NDMC's ability to meet its daily cleaning target of 365 kilometres of roads, he said. Chahal stated that NDMC's Swachhta Division actively monitors air quality and reports data to agencies, including CPCB, DPCC, and CAQM. Under the National Green Tribunal's guidelines prohibiting new diesel vehicle registrations in Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has agreed to fund the procurement of these new CNG-operated sweepers. The Council granted administrative approval for the Preliminary Estimate of Rs 6.69 crore for the procurement through CPCB funding. This will ensure uninterrupted mechanised sweeping, significantly reducing road dust and enhancing cleanliness in this VVIP zone of the capital, he said.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NDMC okays temple upgrade plan, pink toilets
NEW DELHI: The New Delhi Municipal Council has approved a series of infrastructure proposals aimed at improving civic amenities and women's safety, while also unanimously passing a resolution condemning the 1975 Emergency as a 'dark phase' in India's democratic history. In a meeting chaired by PWD Minister Parvesh Verma, the Council cleared the purchase of five new CNG-powered road-sweeping machines to replace its ageing diesel fleet introduced in 2017-18. NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the Rs 6.69 crore proposal, funded with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) support, aligns with the National Green Tribunal's restrictions on diesel vehicles. The Council also approved the development of 37 pink toilets, one in each NDMC market,with facilities such as sanitary napkin vending machines, baby care spaces, drinking water and women staff for security and sanitation. Chahal said the move aims to create 'a safer and more dignified urban environment for women.' Civic upgrades in Jhuggi clusters and plans to enhance basic services around key temples—including Hanuman Mandir, Birla Mandir also discussed.
