Delhi: DDA launches digital monitoring system to track sapling survival in mega plantation drive following LG directives
New Delhi, August 6
Following specific directions from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, to ensure that the saplings planted during plantation drives survive and grow, the Delhi Development Authority on Thursday launched a first-of-its-kind Digital Plantation Monitoring System for its ongoing Mega Plantation Drive 2026-27.
According to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), "for the first time, a plantation programme of this scale will be monitored through a dedicated mobile application integrated with a Plantation Monitoring Dashboard. The system enables digital recording and geo-tagging of plantation activities, creating a centralised record of works undertaken across Delhi to strengthen transparency and accountability."
A key feature of the programme is its emphasis on survival and sustained growth, rather than merely achieving numerical targets. Field-level responsibility has been clearly assigned for watering, maintenance, protection, and monitoring. Plant mortality will be recorded through the system and replacement plantation will be undertaken wherever required.
To ensure transparency, it has been decided to engage an independent third-party agency for verification and assessment of plantation survival. The findings will provide an objective evaluation and help identify areas requiring additional maintenance or corrective measures.
The monitoring system comprises a dedicated mobile application for field officers, particularly Section Officers (Horticulture), and a central dashboard. Field officers upload site-specific details and photographs directly from the ground. This information synchronises with the central platform to enable continuous monitoring across divisions, helping identify delays, maintenance gaps, and casualties for timely action.
"With more than 50 per cent of the plantation target already achieved, the Plantation Monitoring Dashboard, accessible through DDA's official website, enables people and stakeholders to track progress of the drive. The portal displays park-wise details of saplings planted, along with species details, latitude and longitude coordinates, and other updates from the field. It also showcases photographs from the joint drives undertaken where 13,750 people participated from 118 Resident Welfare Associations, 18 religious organisations, 31 other government/para-military/police/NGOs, 24 schools, and 11 institutes, encouraging shared ownership of Delhi's green assets," said DDA.
By integrating technology, field accountability, public disclosure, community participation, and independent assessment, DDA is making its greening drive trackable, measurable, and outcome-oriented. The initiative will contribute to enhancing Delhi's green cover, improving air quality, reducing urban heat, strengthening biodiversity, and building climate resilience.
Following directives from the Lieutenant Governor, DDA is undertaking large-scale ecological restoration using indigenous tree and shrub species. The programme forms part of the 70 Lakh Plantation Mission launched by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah, under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign on 7 July 2026, under which DDA has been entrusted with planting 23 lakh indigenous saplings across the National Capital.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is what we need - transparency with public access to the dashboard! The involvement of RWAs, schools, and religious organisations is wonderful for community ownership. Delhi's air quality needs all the green cover we can get. Let's hope this isn't just a symbolic exercise.
Good initiative on paper, but I remain sceptical. We've seen numerous plantation drives where the actual survival rate is abysmal. The real test will be the third-party verification and whether they actually replace dead saplings. Also, need to ensure indigenous species are truly being prioritised and not just ornamental plants.
As a resident of south Delhi, I've seen parks where new saplings are planted every monsoon but they never seem to grow. This digital monitoring with geo-tagging gives me hope. The public dashboard is a great step - now we citizens can actually track what's happening in our neighbourhoods. 🌱
With 70 lakh plantation mission and 23 lakh target for DDA alone, the scale is massive. The fact that over 13,750 people have already participated shows citizen support exists. But let's be honest - in Delhi's harsh summers and with limited water, survival is tough. Hope they have a robust watering plan, not just a monitoring app.
Appreciate the initiative, but the real issue in Delhi is space and maintenance. Many areas have saplings planted and then forgotten. Assigning field-level responsibility for watering and protection is key. Also, glad they are involving indigenous species - much more suited to our climate than foreign ornamental trees.
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