Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated the ‘Bharat Vann’ green initiative at Lodhi Colony Park in central Delhi, aimed at promoting urban ecological restoration and expanding green cover in the national capital.
The initiative was launched in collaboration with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday.
Speaking at the launch, Sitharaman said the project would develop a dense green forest area in the heart of Delhi using indigenous plants suited to the local environment. The space will also provide residents with facilities for walking, meditation and yoga.
“On PM Modi’s 76th birthday, today, this programme is being held in Delhi with the NDMC. A dense green forest area is being developed in central Delhi. The project will use indigenous plants suited to the local environment. The area will provide citizens with space for walking, meditation and yoga,” she said.
NDMC Vice Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal said the project was being developed under the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp’ framework and involved the participation of school students and NDMC members.
“Under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp, the transformation visible in New Delhi is a result of the efforts of the entire NDMC team. We thank the Finance Minister for her support. In this one-acre area, more than 10,000 plants have been planned,” he said.
Chahal said the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative would also be taken up at the site, with team members and schoolchildren planting and nurturing trees.
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to encourage public participation in environmental conservation and raise awareness about the importance of increasing tree cover.
The initiative seeks to link tree plantation with the emotional bond associated with mothers while encouraging citizens to contribute to environmental sustainability.
(ANI Inputs)
