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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Modi launches initiatives to shape cleaner, greener future for Delhi
DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off electric buses in the national capital and planted a sapling at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park on Thursday as part of a broader mission to build a 'clean and green Delhi' and rejuvenate the Aravali mountain range. Mr. Modi was accompanied by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena, both of whom reiterated their commitment to sustainable urban development and environmental conservation on World Environment Day. 'Flagged off electric buses under an initiative of the Delhi government aimed at boosting sustainable development and clean urban mobility. Additionally, this will improve ease of living for the people of Delhi,' Mr. Modi posted on X. The Prime Minister said the special planting initiative under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was part of the government's efforts to reforest the Aravali range under the Aravalli Green Wall Project. 'Will address concerns' Highlighting that the Aravali range — one of the planet's oldest ranges that spans Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi — faces pressing environmental challenges, he said the government was committed to addressing them. 'Our focus is to rejuvenate areas linked with this range. We are going to work with the respective local administrations and going to emphasise things such as improving water systems, curbing dust storms, stopping eastward expansion of the Thar desert and more,' the Prime Minister said. 'In the Aravali range and beyond, in addition to the traditional planting methods, we will encourage new techniques, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where there are space constraints. Plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored on the Meri LiFE portal,' Mr. Modi said. At a separate event at Bharat Mandapam, Ms. Gupta called for a complete shift from plastic use in daily life. 'We need to free our lifestyle from plastic use. We have included plastic in our everyday life and now the situation is such that even our blood has plastic particles, which have become the cause of cancer and other diseases,' she said. 2.10 cr. saplings planted Mr.Saxena said over 2.10 crore saplings have been planted across the Capital by various agencies. He said that 30 wetlands and water bodies are being developed along the Yamuna floodplains, where seven lakh saplings have already been planted as part of ecological restoration efforts. He termed the government's dust mitigation plan a key step in combating air pollution. On clearing of landfill sites, he said 75 lakh metric tonnes of waste were already processed. The waste segregation machines rose from 12 to 75, raising daily capacity from 7,000 to 25,000 tonnes, he said.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
PM leads nationwide green drive; kicks off Aravalli Green Wall Project
New Delhi, June 5 (UNI) On the World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded a series of green initiatives, including the launch of an ambitious 'Aravalli Green Wall Project,' aimed at combating land degradation and the growing threats of climate change. Leading by example, the Prime Minister planted a sapling at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in Delhi's southern ridge area, further strengthening the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, which was launched last year to promote tree plantation in honour of one's mother. Highlighting the ecological significance of the Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, Modi emphasised its crucial role in four Indian states -- Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. He reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the environmental challenges facing the region and beyond. 'To rejuvenate the Aravalli range, we must combine traditional conservation methods with modern, innovative techniques, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where space is limited,' the Prime Minister said. He added that all plantation activities would be geo-tagged and monitored through the Meri LiFE portal, ensuring transparency and accountability. Calling upon the youth to become active participants in environmental protection, Modi urged them to contribute towards increasing the country's green cover. Taking to social media platform X, the Prime Minister shared details of the new initiatives, describing them as a boost to the ongoing 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. He said the focus would be on restoring degraded landscapes, improving local water systems, curbing dust storms, and halting the eastward spread of the Thar Desert. 'We will work closely with local administrations to implement these measures effectively,' he added. To mark the occasion, Modi also flagged off a fleet of electric buses under a Delhi government initiative to promote clean urban mobility and sustainable development. 'This move will not only build a greener and cleaner Delhi but also enhance the ease of living for its residents,' he posted on X. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister planted a Sindoor sapling at his New Delhi residence. The sapling was a gift from the women of Kutch, Gujarat, in recognition of their extraordinary courage and patriotism during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Recalling his recent visit to Kutch, Modi described the gift as 'a powerful symbol of bravery and an inspiring tribute to the strength of women in our nation.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
On World Environment Day, PM Modi flags off Aravalli reforestation plan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park here on World Environment Day on Thursday, extending the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and launching a special initiative to reforest the 700-km Aravalli mountain range that stretches from Delhi to Gujarat. In a post on X, the prime minister said the Aravalli range is one of the oldest on the planet, covering Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, and that the last several years have brought to the fore several environmental challenges relating to the range, which his government is committed to mitigating. "Our focus is to rejuvenate areas linked with this range. We are going to work with the respective local administrations and emphasise things such as improving water systems, curbing dust storms, stopping eastward expansion of the Thar desert and more," he said. "In the Aravalli range and beyond, in addition to the traditional planting methods, we will encourage new techniques, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where there are space constraints. Plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored on the Meri LiFE portal," he said. The prime minister called upon the youth to take part in the movement and contribute to increasing the planet's green cover. He also flagged off electric buses under the Delhi government's sustainable transport initiative. "This will also improve 'Ease of Living' for the people of Delhi," PM Modi said. The Aravalli Green Wall Project is a major initiative to expand green cover in the five-km buffer area around the Aravallis in 29 districts of the three states and a Union territory. The government said this initiative will play a crucial role in combating air pollution in the region, achieving India's climate goal of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The project will enhance the biodiversity of the Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It will also help improve soil fertility and water availability in the region, the government said. It added that the project will benefit local communities by generating employment and income opportunities. The chief ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat also participated in the launch of the project. Officials from the environment ministry said around 1,000 nurseries will be developed in the 29 districts located in the Aravalli range as part of the initiative. The five-km wide green buffer will cover 6.45 million hectares across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Within this buffer zone, about 42 per cent (2.7 million hectares) of land is currently degraded. The Aravalli range acts as a natural barrier against desertification, preventing the expansion of the Thar desert and protecting cities such as Delhi, Jaipur and Gurugram. It is also the source of important rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati and Luni. Its forests, grasslands and wetlands support endangered plant and animal species. However, deforestation, mining, livestock grazing, and human encroachment are worsening desertification, damaging aquifers, drying up lakes and reducing the range's ability to sustain wildlife. Of the total degraded area, 81 per cent is in Rajasthan, 15.8 per cent in Gujarat, 1.7 per cent in Haryana and 1.6 per cent in Delhi.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi launches Aravalli Green Wall Project, expands 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign
Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park here on World Environment Day on Thursday (June 5, 2025), extending the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and launching a special initiative to reforest the 700-km Aravalli mountain range that stretches from Delhi to Gujarat. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the Aravalli range is one of the oldest on the planet, covering Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, and that the last several years have brought to the fore several environmental challenges relating to the range, which his government is committed to mitigating. "Our focus is to rejuvenate areas linked with this range. We are going to work with the respective local administrations and emphasise things such as improving water systems, curbing dust storms, stopping eastward expansion of the Thar desert and more," he said. "In the Aravalli range and beyond, in addition to the traditional planting methods, we will encourage new techniques, especially in urban and semi-urban areas where there are space constraints. Plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored on the Meri LiFE portal," he said. The Prime Minister called upon the youth to take part in the movement and contribute to increasing the planet's green cover. He also flagged off electric buses under the Delhi government's sustainable transport initiative. "This will also improve 'Ease of Living' for the people of Delhi," the Prime minister said. The Aravalli Green Wall Project is a major initiative to expand green cover in the five-km buffer area around the Aravallis in 29 districts of the three states and a Union territory. The government said this initiative will play a crucial role in combating air pollution in the region, achieving India's climate goal of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The project will enhance the biodiversity of the Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It will also help improve soil fertility and water availability in the region, the government said. It added that the project will benefit local communities by generating employment and income opportunities. The Chief Ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat also participated in the launch of the project. Officials from the Environment Ministry said around 1,000 nurseries will be developed in the 29 districts located in the Aravalli range as part of the initiative. The five-km wide green buffer will cover 6.45 million hectares across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Within this buffer zone, about 42% (2.7 million hectares) of land is currently degraded. The Aravalli range acts as a natural barrier against desertification, preventing the expansion of the Thar desert and protecting cities such as Delhi, Jaipur and Gurugram. It is also the source of important rivers such as the Chambal, Sabarmati and Luni. Its forests, grasslands and wetlands support endangered plant and animal species. However, deforestation, mining, livestock grazing, and human encroachment are worsening desertification, damaging aquifers, drying up lakes and reducing the range's ability to sustain wildlife. Of the total degraded area, 81% is in Rajasthan, 15.8% in Gujarat, 1.7% in Haryana and 1.6% in Delhi.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PM Narendra Modi launches Aravalli Green Wall Project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday planted a banyan sapling at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in Delhi, symbolically launching the Aravalli Green Wall projects. On World Environment Day, which is celebrated today, PM Modi also highlighted the importance of reforesting the Aravalli range under the Aravalli Green Wall project. 'In the Aravalli range and beyond, in addition to the traditional planting methods, we will encourage new techniques especially in urban and semi-urban areas where there are space constraints. Plantation activities will be geo-tagged and monitored on the Meri LiFE portal', PM Modi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He highlighted that the region faces multiple environmental challenges which the government is committed to addressing. 'It is widely known that the Aravalli range is one of the oldest on our planet, covering Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. The past several years have brought to the fore several environmental challenges relating to this range, which our government is committed to mitigating. Our focus is to rejuvenate areas linked with this range. We are going to work with the respective local administrations and going to emphasise things such as improving water systems, curbing dust storms, stopping eastward expansion of the Thar desert and more,' PM Modi wrote. 'Today, on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we strengthened the #EkPedMaaKeNaam initiative with a special tree plantation drive. I planted a sapling at the Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in Delhi. This is also part of our effort to reforest the Aravalli range - the Aravalli Green Wall project,' he said. Also Read: Govt to soon launch Green Wall project to save exploited Aravallis HT reported on June 4 that the Aravalli Green Wall project will look at large-scale landscape restoration across 4 states by removal of prospis juliflora (a kind of mesquite) and planting of native species, especially in reserved forest areas under the forest departments. Trees such as the khair (Indian gum arabic), ronjh (White-barked Acacia); dhau (axlewood), pilkhan (white fig), salai (Indian frankincense), among others, are native to the belt. Aravallis are likely the country's oldest mountain range, spanning 670 km, and runs in a southwesterly direction from Delhi to Gujarat. It boasts 22 wildlife sanctuaries including four tiger reserves (Ranthambore is one) and bird parks. It is the source of important rivers including the Chambal. And it hosts the only primary forest in the National Capital Region, with tools from the lower Palaeolithic period (3.3 million years to 300,000 years ago) and cave art being found in the hills around the forest.
