UP govt to plant over 36 crore saplings across state says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

     Lucknow, Jul 20 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that they would be creating a record by planting over 36 crore saplings across the state.
     Addressing a mega plantation campaign, he reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign of calling all countrymen to plant one tree in the name of Mother (ek ped maa ke naam) on World Environment Day on June 5.
     He said that the environmentalists are worried that global warming will create a new crisis for the world. This crisis has been created by human selfishness, so the responsibility of controlling it should also be on humans.
     "If the tree is saved, the environment will also be saved. By protecting the environment, we can avoid the horrors of global warming and heat waves. The alarm bell has rung. The total population of UP is 25 crore, and we are going to break the record by planting 36.50 crore saplings. In such a situation, three trees are going to be planted in the name of every mother power in UP within a day today. About 12 crore saplings have been planted since morning. We have to plant trees, save them and preserve the environment," Adityanath said.
     "For the first time, we faced the horror of floods. This affected 24 districts of UP, with a population of more than 20 lakh. Due to excessive rainfall in Nepal and Uttarakhand, these were hit by floods. This is the ill effect of global warming. This time in May-June will be remembered for a long time," he said.
     "The temperature here usually remains 42-45, but this time it reached 47-50. This ill effect will also create a water crisis. There will be untimely rains in some places and drought in others. Due to the changes caused by this, there is also a possibility of famine in many places," he said.
     The UP chief minister said that after the formation of the government in 2017, "we started a plantation campaign under the guidance and leadership of the prime minister. In seven years, the BJP-led government planted 168 crore saplings. When a survey was conducted through a third party in the state, it was found that 75-80 per cent of the trees are still alive and have been established as a (part of) good garden."
     Adityanath said that carbon emissions are damaging the environment. To protect it, farmers registered themselves with the tree planting campaign. Global institutions inspected their work. Arrangements were made to provide money in the form of carbon credits to 10 such farmers.
     As a result of the government's efforts, the Uttar Pradesh government is receiving a grant of 200 crores for this, he said. Adding that these trees also played a big role in stopping carbon emissions. Farmers will receive this amount continuously for five years. In the first phase, 25,000 farmers are provided the benefit of this facility.
     Adityanath noted that before 2017, cities used halogen street lights, leading to high electricity consumption and increased carbon emissions. "By replacing these with 16 lakh LED street lights, we saved electricity, and the money saved was used to improve city streets with better lighting. Banning single-use plastic is another significant effort to protect the environment and the living world," he added.
     He also said that earlier, Akbarnagar (in Lucknow) was once a source of pollution, the Saumitra forest has been formed there in the name of Lord Ram's younger brother Laxman ji.
     Adityanath recounted that 50 years ago, the Kukrail River flowed and joined the Gomti River. However, after 1984, the land mafia began filling it in for their gain, transforming it into a drain and a dumping ground for sewage. This destruction not only killed the river but also polluted the Gomti River, which turned black by the time it reached Lucknow. "The state government decided to establish a night safari in Kukrail," he remarked.
     He further explained that encroachments in the area were cleared, and with administrative support, the LDA rehabilitated 3,100 families with proper documentation by providing each family with a new house. The LDA also filed FIRs against the land mafia, who had deceived people through illegal land transactions and fought the issue to the Supreme Court to regain control of the land.
     "I also planted Harishankari (plant). Shakti forest is going to be built on the other side of it. It will become a medium to save India's river culture. It will guide us in providing a new strength with 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'," Adityanath said.
     He also mentioned that drumstick saplings are being planted in the homes of 56 lakh beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana. The state government has also intensified efforts to preserve heritage trees, particularly those over 100 years old, he said.
     A tree plantation drive was organised on the premises of the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench on Saturday.
     Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Justice Arun Bhansali, senior Judge Lucknow division Justice AR Masoodi, along with other judges, officers and staff of the registry, participated in the tree plantation drive, a statement said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)