Union Minister Jadhav Appreciates Delhi’s Afforestation Drive

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, has welcomed the Delhi Government’s ambitious initiative to expand green cover through large-scale plantation and conservation of the Delhi Ridge ecosystem. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta, the Minister described the initiative as a significant step towards environmental conservation and sustainable urban development.

In his letter, Shri Prataprao Jadhav commended the proposed plantation of over 70 lakh indigenous and climate-resilient trees, development of more than 70 water bodies, and notification of nearly 6,000 hectares of land as forest area, describing these measures as a significant step towards strengthening Delhi’s ecological security and improving urban air quality.

The Union Minister particularly welcomed the proposal to replace invasive species such as Vilayati Kikar and Babool with indigenous species including Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Arjun and Jamun, noting that the initiative would transform the Ridge into the “lungs of Delhi” and create a healthier and greener urban environment for future generations.(UPDATED ON 10TH JULY 2026)