Lucknow, 12 July: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged all state government agencies and encouraged institutions and the general public to work together to meet a target of planting 35 crore saplings as part of the ‘Van Mahotsav’ this year.
“After a successful awareness week, now we will have to join mass plantation on July 22 as ‘Van Mahotsav,'” the CM remarked during a special meeting with his council of ministers. ?We are excited to set a new plantation record this year, as we have been in past years.
The goal of ‘Green Uttar Pradesh’ will only be achieved with widespread public participation. Schools should hold processions, slogans, essay writing, speech competitions, and wall writing,” he continued.
The Forest Department has set departmental and divisional plantation objectives, and it is understood that attempts would be made to plant at least 1,000 saplings in each gram panchayat.
The CM further instructed that preparations be made for the planting of 5 crore saplings on August 15. He asked the Departments of Forestry and Climate Change to make all necessary measures to ensure the availability of saplings throughout the drive.
“Construct high-tech nurseries. Proper planning and promotion are required to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality plants. Plantation sites should be geotagged,” the CM remarked. The administration declared that the state’s green cover was expanding, with the goal of raising it to 15% from 9%.
It is estimated that 175 crore saplings would need to be planted and safeguarded over the next five years to reach this aim. The ministry stated in a news statement that over 131 crore saplings had been planted with public assistance in the previous six years.
Over 5.72 crore saplings were planted in 2017-18, 11.77 crore in 2018-19, 22.60 crore in 2019-20, 25.87 crore in 2020-21, 30.53 crore in 2021-22, and 35.49 crore in 2022-23.
