35 crore saplings to plant green cover hope all over UP

Lucknow: State govt has set an ambitious target of planting and protecting 35 crore saplings this year. UP showed significant progress in forest cover as cccording to India State of Forest Report 2023, it saw an impressive increase of 559 sqkm in green cover.

Govt instructed departments to make adequate preparations with quality saplings and develop detailed action plans at district, department, gram panchayat and urban body levels.

The annual Van Mahotsav (forest festival) will be celebrated from Jul 1-7, while massive plantation drive is scheduled for Jun 5, World Environment Day.

Department of forest, environment and climate change will plant about 14 crore saplings, while rural development department will plant about 12.6 crore, agriculture department 2.5 crore, horticulture department around 1.6 crore, panchayati raj department over 1.3 crore and revenue department around 1 crore saplings.

Yogi govt directed officials to ensure plantation was done everywhere. Saplings will be planted on forest land, village and community land, along expressways and canals, industrial area land, land belonging to defence and railways, medical and educational institutions and other govt land. With help of farmers and citizens, trees will be planted on private land too.