Delhi’s forest and wildlife department has initiated work on a large-scale Green Nursery project in Alipur, aiming to develop a high-capacity plantation hub capable of supporting the capital’s expanding urban greening programmes. Spread across nearly 28 acres in north Delhi, the proposed facility is expected to accommodate around 50,000 saplings and is being positioned as part of the city’s broader response to rising heat stress and shrinking ecological buffers.
Officials familiar with the project said the nursery is being developed with an estimated investment of nearly ₹80 lakh and is expected to become operational within weeks of construction beginning. The initiative comes at a time when Delhi continues to experience prolonged heatwaves, erratic rainfall and growing pressure on its existing green cover due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure expansion. The Green Nursery is expected to supply saplings for roadside plantations, biodiversity parks, institutional campuses and public landscaping projects across the capital. Urban planners say such decentralised nursery systems are becoming increasingly important for megacities where mature tree cover is difficult to restore once lost to construction activity. Unlike conventional nurseries, the Alipur facility will incorporate climate-controlled propagation infrastructure designed to improve plant survival rates during extreme summer conditions. A mist chamber is planned to maintain high moisture levels for delicate saplings, while large shaded zones using ultraviolet-resistant netting are expected to reduce heat exposure and evaporation losses.
The department is also introducing water-efficient irrigation systems, including drip and sprinkler networks, in line with efforts to reduce groundwater dependence in public landscaping projects. A dedicated storage reservoir with a capacity of around 20,000 litres is part of the design, reflecting growing concerns around water resilience in urban forestry initiatives. Environmental experts note that Delhi’s plantation drives have often struggled with poor survival rates due to inadequate maintenance and heat exposure after transplantation. By creating a more controlled growing environment, the Green Nursery could improve the quality and resilience of saplings before they are introduced into public spaces. The timing of the project is significant. Several parts of the National Capital Region recently witnessed intense rainfall and hail activity that temporarily lowered temperatures after weeks of extreme heat.
Meteorological trends this year have shown fluctuating temperature patterns, with intermittent rain episodes delaying the onset of sustained high temperatures during April. However, climate researchers warn that isolated weather relief events are unlikely to offset the long-term impact of urban heat accumulation caused by dense construction and declining vegetation. Urban development specialists argue that investments in nursery infrastructure are increasingly becoming part of essential city planning rather than standalone environmental projects. Beyond aesthetics, healthy urban tree systems contribute to lower surface temperatures, reduced air pollution and improved public health outcomes in densely populated neighbourhoods. As Delhi prepares for another summer marked by climate uncertainty, the success of projects like the Alipur Green Nursery may ultimately depend not only on plantation targets, but also on long-term maintenance, species selection and integration with future urban development plans.
