New Delhi, July 29: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched the first phase of an ecological restoration project to revive 120 hectares of the Delhi Ridge by planting around 1.81 lakh native trees and shrubs while removing invasive plant species.
The restoration work is being carried out across the South Central Ridge, Central Ridge, Kamla Nehru Ridge and Nanakpura Ridge. As part of the initiative, about 16,240 invasive trees and shrubs will be removed, while nearly 1 lakh indigenous trees and 81,700 native shrubs will be planted to restore the area’s natural ecosystem.
The plantation includes native species such as bargad, peepal, neem, sheesham, arjun, jamun, palash, dhau and khejri, along with shrubs like harshringar, karonda, phalsa, nirgundi and curry leaf. The plantation season began in the first week of July and will continue until mid September.
According to the DDA, more than 8.29 lakh saplings have already been planted across Delhi this season, including over 27,000 within the Ridge.
The restoration programme follows directions issued by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu after reviewing the Ridge ecological condition earlier this year. The project is also part of Delhi’s 70 Lakh Plantation Mission, under which the DDA has been tasked with planting 23 lakh indigenous saplings across the national capital.
The authority said the plantation is being carried out using a grid based, multi layer forest model designed to recreate natural forest conditions. The approach aims to enhance biodiversity, provide habitat for birds and pollinators, reduce soil erosion, improve groundwater recharge and strengthen air quality over the long term.