To mark World Environment Day 2026, 18 Namo Oxygen Parks were inaugurated by the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta around the capital and kicked off a set of environmental initiatives under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The event took place at the Namo Oxygen Park in Maidangarhi, with the focus on growing urban green cover, cleaning up air quality, and getting communities involved in conservation.
Also present were Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and senior officials from both the Union Environment Ministry and the Delhi Government.
India points to its environmental record
Speaking at Namo Oxygen Park in Maidangarhi, Bhupender Yadav said the world is still up against three major environmental problems: climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation that leads to desertification. He pointed to India’s record under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the fast growth in solar capacity, the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the International Solar Alliance, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), more Ramsar wetland sites, and progress on meeting the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of schedule.
He said environmental protection can’t work without public involvement, calling ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ a nationwide movement that gets citizens planting and caring for trees as a mark of gratitude toward nature.
18 new oxygen parks for the city
Yadav said the 18 newly inaugurated Namo Oxygen Parks are meant to act as urban green lungs, improving air quality, supporting biodiversity, and giving residents places to relax and recreate.
He also laid out steps the Delhi Government is taking with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to fight pollution:
- Installing Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS)
- Deploying Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs)
- Mechanized road cleaning
- Pushing electric mobility
- Cutting down road dust and industrial emissions
He added that none of this works long-term without public participation, and called for treating forests, wetlands, and grasslands as one connected system to build ecological resilience.
Delhi aims for 15 lakh trees
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi plans to plant 15 lakh trees across the city this year, as part of the push to clean up air quality and expand green cover.
She stressed that planting trees isn’t enough on its own, people need to stay involved afterward, caring for and protecting the saplings so they actually survive and deliver benefits over time.
Three new environmental documents released
The event also saw three publications released, aimed at strengthening how Delhi manages its environment:
- Working Plan for the National Capital Territory of Delhi (2026–27 to 2036–37) — a ten-year roadmap for conservation, sustainable development, and ecological management.
- Management Plan for Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (2024–25 to 2034–35) — a long-term strategy for protecting and restoring one of Delhi’s key biodiversity hotspots.
- Delhi Bird Atlas — a detailed record of the capital’s bird life, put together with extensive help from birdwatchers, researchers, and volunteers.
The Environment Ministry said these documents will feed into evidence-based policy on biodiversity, wetlands, urban ecosystems, and sustainable development.
Key Takeaway: As part of the celebrations, dignitaries planted saplings under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and toured an exhibition of native grasses and shrubs developed under the ‘Dust-free Delhi’ initiative.
Civil society groups who helped put together the Delhi Bird Atlas were also recognized for their work, a nod to how much citizen involvement now matters in conservation and scientific monitoring.
MCQs:
1. The 18 Namo Oxygen Parks were inaugurated to mark which occasion?
A. Earth Day 2026
B. World Environment Day 2026
C. Van Mahotsav 2026
D. International Day of Forests
2. The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign primarily encourages citizens to:
A. Reduce electricity consumption
B. Plant and care for trees
C. Adopt electric vehicles
D. Restore wetlands only
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