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Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
With over 14 cr saplings left, state to continue plantation drive
Having planted 37.21 crore saplings in one day (July 9), Uttar Pradesh still has over 14 crore saplings left in its nurseries and officials say many of these will be planted in the next one month. (Pic for representation) 'The specialty forests in urban areas such as Atal Van, Triveni Van are being developed and plantation is being done. In fact, the next over four weeks are very good for plantation and we will share saplings for any such initiative,' said Dipak Kumar, nodal of the Mega Plantation-2025 and senior forest officer. Each of the 75 districts are developing urban forest pockets named Atal Van, Triveni Van, Eklavya, Ekta, Shaurya Van, and Oxy Forest to bring people close to nature. On an average, 1,600 saplings are being planted on one hectare land in these forests. Miyawaki Forest is also part of such development, but plantation here is dense compared to other forests. Though not all left over saplings will be planted, a large number of saplings are expected to be utilised till September 5 when plantation will be done on Teachers' Day. 'Some saplings are not fully grown and hence they will be kept in nurseries for next year's plantation drive. The saplings we are planting are at least 5 feet and better up to 7 feet in height,' said Naveen Khandelwal, divisional forest officer Sitapur. Good height of saplings makes them grow faster after plantation and keeps them safe from animals who come for grazing. Roughly 12 crore saplings might be left over for plantation next year. They will be nurtured in 1912 nurseries under the forest department.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP's Shaurya Forests to honour martyrs, to be green lungs
The state government has planned to promote environmental protection and foster national unity through 'Shaurya Forests', which will be developed in each district to honour martyrs. These Shaurya Forests will serve as green lungs, wherever they are set up. The forest and wildlife department has presented a detailed report of this initiative to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, a press statement issued by the state government on Wednesday read. 'The place for these Shaurya Forests are being identified by respective divisional forest officers. During the plantation, we will call freedom fighters and even army personnel,' said Dipak Kumar, mission director, Plantation Mahotsav-2025. Atal, Ekta, and Eklavya forests are being developed in the state under the Green UP campaign. Oxy forests will be developed to reduce effects of air pollution in urban areas, while Gopal forests will promote environmental protection and public participation. Triveni Forest and Shakti Vatika will promote religion and culture, along with environmental protection, the statement read. The initiative also includes the creation of Oxy Forests in municipal areas to combat urban pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change, Gopal Forests in cow shelters with shade-giving and fodder-rich plant species to support animal welfare, and Triveni Van on the banks of Rivers Ganga and Yamuna in remembrance of Mahakumbh 2025, featuring sacred trees like neem, peepal, and pakkad. Before the Aastha and Hariyali Abhiyan, Shakti Vatika was planted at 781 locations during Chaitra Navratri to celebrate religious and cultural heritage while enhancing ecological balance. Further strengthening this green movement, the department is also set to launch 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0', a renewed version of its widely appreciated campaign that encourages tree plantation in the name of one's mother.
