Chandigarh, November 18 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that whenever the nation remembers those who sacrificed their lives for religion and the country, the name of Guru Tegh Bahadur stands at the top. He added that the 350th martyrdom year of the Sikh Guru is being observed across the state to inspire future generations with his life and teachings.
The Chief Minister was speaking at Kalesar in Yamunanagar, where he inaugurated a forest, wildlife and biodiversity conservation block named after Guru Tegh Bahadur. He also planted 350 saplings with students, launched a safari trail, and unveiled the Guru Tegh Bahadur Gate within the national park.
Saini also laid the foundation stones for an AI-based monitoring tower, a tree canopy walk and three-tier watchtowers. He further announced that the upcoming agriculture college to be built on 45 acres in Pratapnagar and Kishanpura in Yamunanagar will also be named after Guru Tegh Bahadur. He directed officials to check the feasibility of the proposed Kapal Mochan road bypass.
The Chief Minister said the lush greenery of Kalesar radiates a divine energy and symbolises the confluence of nature, spirituality and human values. He paid tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur, calling him “Hind Ki Chadar,” and said the new conservation block will serve as a milestone in preserving forests and biodiversity while carrying forward the Guru’s deep bond with nature.
He said forests have always been centres of learning and welfare in Indian culture, and several significant trees are linked to Sikh history as well. Citing this legacy, he urged people to prioritise cleanliness, plantation and wildlife protection to overcome modern challenges. Haryana, he said, has launched several initiatives to expand green cover.
Saini said the state aims to green every corner of Haryana. “We are not just planting trees, we are planting life,” he said, adding that plantations act as natural filters, strengthen soil and prevent land degradation.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign launched on June 5, 2024, Saini said 1.87 crore saplings were planted in the first phase and 2.10 crore in the second. Since 2014, he said, 18 crore saplings have been planted in the state.
He said the government has introduced special schemes to promote urban forestry and taken strict measures to prevent illegal tree felling and protect wildlife. The Green Aravalli project, jointly launched by the Centre and states, is being implemented across four states, including five districts of Haryana.
Saini added that the Forest Department is using modern technology to monitor the growth of newly planted trees for up to five years. Several herbal parks have been developed, and international-level medicinal forests and oxy forests have been established in Morni, Karnal, Panchkula and Sonipat.
He emphasised that children must be connected with nature from an early age so they grow up understanding the value of forests. He appealed that every school should promote nature education, every family should plant at least one sapling, and every youth should adopt a tree as its guardian. “Only then can Haryana become truly green,” he said.
The event was attended by Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, MLA Ghanshyam Das Arora, BJP State Vice President Banto Kataria, former minister Kanwar Pal, PCCF Vineet Garg, CCF Dr Vivek Saxena, Haryana Biodiversity Board Chairman Randeep Singh Johar, OSD Dr Prabhleen Singh and other dignitaries.
