New Delhi, 05 June (H.S.):
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on Friday that collective effort and public participation are essential to care for and conserve trees for the benefit of future generations.
Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta jointly inaugurated 18 Namo Oxygen Parks at an event today at the Namo Oxygen Park in Maydan Garhi, Delhi. During the programme they launched several environmental initiatives under the nationwide campaign One Tree in the Name of Mother. These initiatives aim to further green the capital, improve air quality and promote environmental conservation.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s One Tree in the Name of Mother campaign, he said the initiative has transformed tree planting into a mass movement rooted in gratitude, responsibility and environmental awareness. He urged citizens not only to plant trees but also to care for and protect them for future generations.
The minister noted that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has emerged as a global leader in environmental protection, achieving several significant milestones. These include becoming one of the world’s leading countries in added solar capacity, implementing the PM Surya Ghar scheme, establishing the International Solar Alliance, launching the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), expanding Ramsar wetland sites and meeting several nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ahead of schedule.
He said steps taken by the Delhi government to clean the city’s air include the establishment of an Online Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (OCEMS), deployment of air pollution control devices (APCDs), mechanised deep-cleaning of roads and a rapid shift to electric vehicles.
Rekha Gupta said increasing green cover is among the most important measures to improve Delhi’s air quality. She announced that the Delhi government has set a target to plant 1.5 million trees across the city in the current year.
Three important environment-related publications prepared by the Delhi government were released at the event. These include the action plan for NCT Delhi, the Asola Bhatti Sanctuary management plan and the Delhi Bird Atlas, aimed at strengthening scientific environmental governance.
During the ceremony all dignitaries participated in tree planting under the One Tree in the Name of Mother campaign. They also viewed a special exhibition of indigenous grasses and shrub varieties under the Dust-free Delhi initiative.
Civil society organisations and volunteers who made invaluable contributions to preparing the Delhi Bird Atlas were honoured with certificates, highlighting the growing and important role of citizens in environmental monitoring.
Other dignitaries present included Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh, Delhi Minister for Environment, Forests and Wildlife Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
