The NDMC green drive completed its 42nd consecutive Sunday at Palika Awas in Sarojini Nagar, where residents, resident welfare association representatives and civic officials planted saplings while also raising complaints about basic neighbourhood services.
The New Delhi Municipal Council organised the plantation programme under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. NDMC Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Singh Chahal participated in the drive along with local residents and civic representatives. Residents planted saplings in honour of their mothers and pledged to care for them.
Chahal said the continuation of the campaign for 42 Sundays reflected growing public participation and a stronger sense of responsibility towards the environment. He said planting a sapling was only the first step, adding that regular watering, nourishment and protection were necessary for the saplings to survive and grow into trees.
The campaign’s stated message was: “Plant a sapling, protect it and nurture it into a tree.” The emphasis on post-plantation care places responsibility not only on the civic body but also on neighbourhood residents and local associations involved in maintaining the planted areas.
During the programme, residents and RWA representatives raised several local civic issues with the NDMC team. These included seepage, road repairs, water supply, sanitation and the cleaning of green areas. The complaints linked the plantation activity to wider concerns about how neighbourhood public spaces and basic services are maintained.
Chahal directed the concerned officials to inspect the affected sites and ensure that the issues were resolved within the stipulated timelines. He said direct interaction with residents allowed the civic body to understand ground-level problems and address them in a timely manner.
The NDMC said the campaign was evolving beyond a plantation programme by encouraging citizens to take responsibility for the upkeep of saplings in their neighbourhoods. The next steps identified during the programme are site inspections by the concerned officials and action on the civic issues raised by residents.
