New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Prataprao Jadhav, has welcomed the Delhi government’s plan to expand the city’s green cover through large-scale plantation and conservation of the Delhi Ridge ecosystem.
In a letter to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Jadhav praised the proposal to plant over 70 lakh indigenous trees, develop 70-plus water bodies, and notify nearly 6,000 hectares as forest land, calling it a major step towards improving Delhi’s ecology and air quality.
He suggested that 20 per cent of the plantations be dedicated to medicinal plants or that at least two forests be developed as Medicinal Forests (Aushadhi Vans). According to the minister, this would support the Ayush sector, conserve biodiversity, promote ecological restoration, and encourage eco-tourism.
Jadhav also shared a list of medicinal species suitable for Delhi’s climate, including Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Giloy, Brahmi, Amla, Neem, Arjun, Ashok, Bel, and Jamun, and said the initiative could become a national model for integrating urban afforestation with traditional medicine.
