New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Friday planted indigenous saplings on World Environment Day, describing environmental protection as an existential necessity for urban landscapes.

“True governance is not just about passing laws for the present, but planting roots for our future generations; a green capital begins with a single sapling,” said Gupta while leading a mega plantation drive within the historic Delhi Vidhan Sabha premises.

The Speaker urged citizens to transition from passive observers to active “guardians of nature,” emphasising that every household in Delhi should adopt at least one tree.

He emphasised that this day serves as a global wake-up call to repair our fractured relationship with nature. The Speaker noted that as a city battling severe seasonal pollution and rising temperatures, Delhi must pivot toward aggressive, community-driven greening efforts to secure a breathable, sustainable ecosystem.

The Speaker highlighted that public institutions must lead by example rather than just issuing policy directives.

He stated that the Delhi Vidhan Sabha aims to pioneer this transformation, turning political spaces into sanctuaries of environmental awareness.

By escalating tree plantation efforts within institutional campuses, Delhi can build dense urban mini-forests that actively combat the heat-island effect, enrich local biodiversity, and provide clean air pockets across the capital, he said.

Addressing the role of individual responsibility, Gupta asserted that environmental stewardship should not be confined to a single calendar day.

The Speaker explained that institutional efforts only succeed when they trigger a mass social movement, where citizen pride is directly tied to the health of their local environment.

The Speaker reiterated that the ultimate goal of the Legislative Assembly’s green initiative is to inspire structural and behavioural change across the capital.

He envisioned a future where Delhi’s architectural heritage and natural beauty coexist seamlessly.

Gupta gave a call to action for all stakeholders, including youth and community leaders, to join hands in an unyielding commitment to turn the national capital into a model of environmental sustainability and community-driven climate resilience.

–IANS

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