Yogi Government’s Big Plan: 350 Million Trees and Special Gardens in Uttar Pradesh
The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh has a big plan to make the state greener by planting 350 million saplings this year. In Lucknow, the Forest Department has set a goal to plant 39 lakh saplings. They will also create four special gardens: Heritage Tree Vatika, Vanar Vatika, Shakti Vatika, and Ayush Vatika. The Vanar Vatika will have plants that provide food for monkeys.
District Forest Officer (DFO) Sitashu Pandey said, “We plant 35 crore saplings in the state every year. The target for Lucknow is 39 lakh saplings. The forest department will sow 15 lakh and 24 lakh will be from other different departments. Four main gardens are being constructed. Virasat Vriksh Vatika, Vanar Van for monkeys, Pavitra Dhara Vatika and Shakti Vatika to be done by women. Trees of various fruits and vegetables would be planted in the Vanar Van for the monkeys to consume.”
From July 1, free saplings will be given out. The types of plants include environment-related saplings for oxygen, plant-protein-based saplings like sesame, herbal plants like Neem, fruit-bearing saplings, and flower-bearing plants.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign on World Environment Day. He encouraged everyone to plant a tree with their mother or in her name to celebrate both motherhood and the environment. He said, “If I ask you which is the most precious relationship in the world, you will definitely say – ‘Mother’. In all our lives, the status of ‘mother’ is the highest. A mother nurtures her child despite facing every pain. Every mother shows affection for her child. This love of the mother who gave birth to us is like a debt on all of us which no one can repay. We cannot give anything to Mother, but can we do anything else? With this thought in mind, a special campaign has been started on World Environment Day this year, the name of this campaign is – ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’. I have also planted a tree in the name of my mother.”
He added, “I have appealed to all my countrymen, people of all the countries of the world to plant a tree along with their mother or in her name. I am very happy to see that the campaign of planting trees in the memory or honour of Mother is progressing rapidly.”
