Uttar Pradesh to plant 35 crore trees during Van Mahotsav

Lucknow, June 25: Uttar Pradesh is set to launch a green campaign during Van Mahotsav from July 1 to 7, aiming to plant a record 35 crore trees across the state. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the initiative will be the largest plantation drive undertaken anywhere in India this year, which could itself be a national record.

The Forest and Wildlife Department, leading the campaign, has already readied 52.33 crore saplings with support from several other departments. Soil preparation work has been completed across 72,912 hectares and 8,439 plantation sites statewide. Forest and Environment Minister Arun Kumar Saxena has conducted divisional review meetings in Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and other regions. Similar reviews are scheduled soon for Meerut and Gorakhpur.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Nodal Officer for Van Mahotsav, Deepak Kumar, said the Forest Department alone has prepared 47.2 crore saplings, while the Horticulture, Silk, and other departments have added more. Around 3.17 crore saplings have come from private sources.

The saplings include 18.60 crore timber trees like teak and sheesham, 10.79 crore fruit trees such as mango and guava, 5.75 crore medicinal varieties including neem and drumstick, 5.62 crore ornamental plants, and 0.29 crore sacred trees like banyan and peepal. To ensure mass participation, the government is partnering with schools, colleges, NGOs, and local communities. The campaign is part of Uttar Pradesh’s broader effort to expand forest cover, promote ecological balance, and raise environmental awareness.