New Delhi, 5 June 2025 — In a powerful reaffirmation of India’s green resolve, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led a tree plantation drive at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in Delhi on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025. This marked a significant step in strengthening the national environmental initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, and the government’s broader commitment to rejuvenate one of India’s most ancient and ecologically crucial landscapes — the Aravalli Range — through the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
🌳 Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Honouring Nature & Motherhood
Planting a sapling amidst the serene greenery of the park, the Prime Minister amplified the sentiment behind the #EkPedMaaKeNaam initiative — encouraging every citizen to plant and nurture at least one tree in their mother’s name. This movement has quickly become a people-centric environmental call to action, blending emotional resonance with ecological responsibility.
The Prime Minister used this symbolic gesture to ignite a nationwide appeal for mass participation in environmental preservation, especially from the youth and urban communities.
🏞 Reforesting the Aravallis: A Critical Environmental Priority
In his address, Shri Modi turned the spotlight to the Aravalli mountain range, describing it as one of the oldest geographical formations on Earth. Stretching across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, the Aravalli range is a natural shield protecting the Indo-Gangetic plains from the expansion of the Thar Desert and plays a crucial role in regulating the local climate, preventing desertification, and preserving biodiversity.
However, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the alarming environmental degradation that has affected the range in recent decades. He listed key environmental threats facing the region:
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Deforestation and mining
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Loss of native flora and fauna
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Depletion of water resources
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Expansion of dust storms and desertification from the west
In response, Shri Modi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforesting and rejuvenating the Aravalli ecosystem through the Aravalli Green Wall Project, a comprehensive restoration plan that includes:
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Large-scale afforestation and reforestation
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Water system rejuvenation
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Stopping the eastward movement of the Thar Desert
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Dust storm mitigation strategies
🛰 Modern Monitoring through the ‘Meri LiFE’ Portal
Shri Modi emphasized the use of technology in tracking environmental progress. All plantation drives — especially in urban and semi-urban pockets — will now be geo-tagged and monitored via the Meri LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) portal, a digital platform designed to track sustainable lifestyle actions and community-led climate initiatives.
This tech-driven approach ensures:
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Transparency and accountability
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Real-time progress monitoring
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Public participation in climate action
👦 Youth as Climate Warriors
Issuing a passionate appeal to India’s younger generation, the Prime Minister urged the youth to become the torchbearers of environmental conservation. He highlighted that the future of the planet lies in the hands of the youth and encouraged them to:
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Plant trees in their localities
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Spread awareness about the importance of green cover
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Adopt sustainable practices in daily life
🧵 Prime Minister’s Statement on X (formerly Twitter)
In a dedicated thread on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed his thoughts:
“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 a part of our effort to reforest the Aravalli range – the Aravalli Green Wall project.”
“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 local administrations to improve water systems, curb dust storms, stop the expansion of the Thar desert, and more.”
“In the Aravalli range and beyond, 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.”
“I call upon the youth of our nation to take part in this movement and add to our planet’s green cover.”
🌿 A Greener Future Through Collective Action
This World Environment Day, India has once again shown the world that environmental responsibility is a national priority. Through visionary initiatives like Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam and strategic projects such as the Aravalli Green Wall, the Government is pushing for both ecological restoration and citizen involvement.
The plantation at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park stands not just as an isolated act but as a symbol of India’s larger mission — to lead the world in nature conservation through people-powered movements and smart governance.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
