Delhi Ridge Rejuvenation Campaign and Mission 70 Lakh Plantation
Context
The Government launched the Delhi Ridge Rejuvenation Campaign along with the Mission 70 Lakh Plantation initiative to restore the Delhi Ridge. The plan aims to develop 6,300 hectares of the Ridge into a legally protected forest over the next four years through large-scale plantation and ecological restoration.
Facts
- The Delhi Ridge, initially notified under the Indian Forest Act, remained without a final notification for nearly three decades. The government has now declared 5,000 hectares as forest land.
- Plantation efforts will focus on native, long-lived species such as Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Gular, Arjun, and Jamun, replacing invasive and ecologically unsuitable thorny species.
- The afforestation drive includes:
- 20.01 lakh trees
- 37.07 lakh shrubs
- 92,960 bamboo saplings
- Distribution of 12.04 lakh free saplings under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.
- A Green Drive Portal has been launched to facilitate free sapling distribution and encourage public participation.
- Measures have also been announced to prevent cow dung from entering the Yamuna River through collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
Significance
- Legal protection of the Delhi Ridge will strengthen conservation of the city’s “green lungs”, preventing encroachment and protecting biodiversity.
- The initiative will improve air quality, groundwater recharge, soil conservation, and urban ecological resilience.
- Restoration of native vegetation will enhance habitat connectivity and support long-term environmental sustainability.
Concepts
- The Delhi Ridge is the northern extension of the Aravalli Range, one of the world’s oldest fold mountain systems. It acts as a natural barrier against dust storms and desertification while serving as Delhi’s ecological buffer.
- Under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Reserved Forests receive the highest degree of legal protection, with activities prohibited unless specifically permitted.
- The Aravalli Range extends from Gujarat through Rajasthan and Haryana to Delhi and plays a vital role in checking desert expansion and maintaining the ecological balance of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.