UP CM says safeguarding environment a shared duty, not govt's alone

Indian Express

22-05-2025

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that safeguarding the environment is a duty shared by the general public and is not of the government's alone.
Inaugurating the National Seminar–2025 on International Biodiversity Day, in Lucknow, the CM said every auspicious ritual in Sanatan Dharma begins with prayers for the well-being of the earth, water, sky, and all living beings.
In the Atharva Veda, there is a verse that reveres the earth as mother and humans as her children, bound by the duty to protect her, he added.
Citing the Vedic Shanti Path (Vedic peace tradition), the CM said the State Biodiversity Board is spearheading new campaigns to realise the vision of 'harmony with nature and sustainable development. The Forest Department has significantly expanded the state's green cover by planting over 210 crore trees in the past eight years, he claimed.
Under the Namami Gange initiative, substantial progress has been made in restoring the cleanliness and uninterrupted flow of the Ganga, especially in Kanpur, once considered one of the most polluted stretches, he noted.
'Today, the Ganga flows clean in that region, reflecting the success of these focused efforts,' he claimed.
In Sanatan Dharma, trees like peepal, banyan and jamun are worshiped and animals are considered sacred, the CM said. In earlier times, even ants were not harmed but gently removed by offering flour and sugar, an example of coexistence and ecological compassion, he added.
He raised concerns over the declining population of ecologically significant species like vulture, which once played a vital role in nature's purification cycle. Harmful side-effects of chemical fertilisers and pharmaceutical residues have brought such species to extinction.
Adityanath urged people to recognise these creatures' importance and express gratitude towards the wisdom embedded in traditional practices.
During the seminar, the CM visited the biodiversity-themed exhibition and released the Green Budget and a Biodiversity Booklet. He also provided Rs 10,000 incentives to individuals recognised for outstanding work in carbon credit initiatives.