On World Environment Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a seedling at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park to kick off the Aravalli Green Wall Project. This signalled the start of a massive reforestation effort aimed at the 700-km Aravalli mountain range, which extends from Delhi to Gujarat, and the continuation of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said that the Aravallis, which span Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, are among the world’s oldest ranges. He pointed out several environmental problems that have emerged in recent years. The government is dedicated to tackling these issues through targeted action and engaging local governments.

According to officials, the project will span 29 districts in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, encompassing a buffer region that is five kilometres wide. Of the 6.45 million hectares of this green corridor, 42%, or 2.7 million hectares, consist of degraded land. Eighty-one per cent of this degraded area is in Rajasthan, with Gujarat (15.8%), Haryana (1.7%), and Delhi (1.6%) following closely.

Tackling Desertification and Enhancing Biodiversity

According to Modi, the plan calls for reviving water systems, reducing dust storms, stopping the Thar Desert’s eastward expansion, and implementing innovative planting methods in urban and semi-urban areas. These initiatives will support conventional planting techniques.

The Meri LiFE portal will geo-tag and track all planting operations under this program. The Aravalli range protects towns like Delhi, Gurugram, and Jaipur as a natural barrier against desertification. Its grasslands, ponds, and woodlands also provide habitat for several endangered species.

The area is experiencing increasing desertification, declining aquifers, and habitat loss due to human activities, including mining, encroachment, overgrazing, and deforestation. Afforestation, reforestation, and water body revival are all part of the restoration project, which aims to boost soil fertility, enhance biodiversity, and expand water availability.

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Community Participation and Climate Goals

The Prime Minister urged young people to become involved in expanding green space. As part of Delhi’s sustainable transportation program, he also announced the launch of electric buses, which he said would improve the city’s Ease of Living.

The initiative seeks to meet India’s climate ambitions by recovering 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and contributing to the creation of an extra carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. According to environment ministry officials, almost 1,000 nurseries will be developed in the 29 districts.

The chief ministers of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi also attended the ceremony. The ministry claimed the initiative would create jobs and income opportunities for residents.

This highlights the central role of the Aravalli Green Wall Project in combating land degradation and promoting ecological balance across northwestern India.

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