Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has urged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to ensure that 20 per cent of the plantations in the proposed eight theme-based forests being developed under the city’s massive plantation drive comprise medicinal plant species, according to officials from the Ministry of Ayush.
The minister made the request in a letter to the Chief Minister, stating that at least 20 per cent of the plantations in the proposed eight forests should be devoted to medicinal plant species. Alternatively, he suggested that at least two of the forests be developed as dedicated Medicinal Forests (Aushadhi Vans).
On Tuesday, Delhi launched its campaign to plant 70 lakh saplings across the city during 2026-27 using a science-backed approach. The project also includes the development of eight theme-based forests — Panchavati Van, Nakshatra Van, Bel Van, Ritu Van, Rishi Van, Tirthankar Van, Vaman Vriksh Van and Kurani Vatika.
Welcoming the Chief Minister’s initiative to expand Delhi’s green cover and restore the capital’s ecology, Jadhav requested Gupta to consider a list of medicinal plant species suitable for the city’s agro-climatic conditions.
The list shared with the Chief Minister includes Ashwagandha, Giloy, Tulsi, Brahmi, Shatavari, Amla, Arjun, Ashok, Neem, Bel and Jamun.
The minister said such medicinal forests would help create a sustainable source of quality raw material for the Ayush sector, promote biodiversity conservation, strengthen ecological restoration efforts and encourage eco-tourism in the National Capital Region.
Besides the target of planting 70 lakh saplings, the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi Government has also announced plans to restore the city’s Ridge area.
Over the next four years, a total of one crore plants, including 35 lakh native trees and more than 65 lakh shrubs, bamboo and climbers, will be planted across nearly 6,303 hectares of the Ridge.
Jadhav also welcomed the proposal to replace invasive species such as Vilayati Kikar and Babool with indigenous species, including Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Arjun and Jamun. He said the initiative would transform the Ridge into the “lungs of Delhi” and create a healthier and greener urban environment for future generations.
Similar efforts were initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi Government in July 2018 to replace Vilayati Kikar with indigenous tree species, as the invasive tree’s deep root system was believed to deplete groundwater and dry up the soil in parts of the Central Ridge.