Uttar Pradesh is all set to witness its annual plantation drive in the first week of July and it is estimated that over 30 crore saplings will be planted across Lucknow and other state districts, this time. With regards to this, Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, has issued fresh directives, instructing all district magistrates to spot designated areas for these drives. Further, they have also been asked to provide saplings to the district forest officers (DFOs) by June 15.
Drives to be managed via a well-structured plan
In order to ensure successful implementation of the drives, the Chief Secretary has asked the district level authorities to summon meetings of plantation committees. In addition to this, weekly and fortnightly meetings of officers should also be called to make sure that the project is on the right track. Thereby, the state should be able to achieve the expected target.
26.75 crore saplings planted on a single day in 2020
The current interventions are a part of a string of projects that are executed in Uttar Pradesh every year. Last year, a record count of 26.75 crore saplings were planted in the state on a single day, under the supervision of the CM. It is noteworthy that these plants were placed along outside the homes established under PM Awas Yojana, while a large count of saplings found habitat along the peripheries of the river. This activity was a part of Mission Vriksharopan 2020 and the Van Mahotsav campaign.
As per official records, the state administration has stated that 5 crore, 11 crore and 22 crore saplings were planted in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Out of the total saplings planted and geo-tagged in 2019, 95% had survived.
– With inputs from IANS
