Chandigarh, July 23 — In a significant move to promote environmental conservation and sustainable living, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced an ambitious target of planting 2.10 crore trees across the state during this year’s monsoon season. Speaking at the State-level Van Mahotsav held in Morni, Panchkula district, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in environmental preservation, urging every household in the state to plant at least one tree.
Highlighting the success of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, CM Saini noted that over 1.87 crore saplings have already been planted, surpassing the original target of 1.60 crore. He expressed confidence that with continued public support, the new target would also be achieved.
To ensure long-term impact, CM Saini announced that the Forest Department will utilize drone-based geo-tagging and mapping to monitor the growth of planted trees for the next five years. Since October 2014, approximately 18 crore trees have been planted across Haryana. He stressed that the Van Mahotsav is not just a plantation drive but a commitment to nature, serving as a reminder that protecting the environment is a sacred duty.
The Chief Minister also unveiled two booklets published by the Forest and Wildlife Department, focusing on the development of herbal gardens and nature trails in the Morni region to promote eco-tourism. Addressing demands raised by Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma, he assured that all development proposals would be considered after a feasibility review by the concerned departments.
In a broader vision for ecological balance, CM Saini elaborated on several other green initiatives. The “Pranavayu Devta Pension Yojana” honors trees over 75 years old by granting ₹3,000 annually per tree for their upkeep. So far, ₹1 crore has been deposited into the accounts of caretakers of 3,800 such trees. Herbal parks have also been developed across districts to preserve medicinal plants, with an international-level herbal forest set up in the Morni area. Additionally, ‘Oxy-van’ forests are being established in multiple districts to improve air quality and green cover.
In southern Haryana, the government has launched the “Harit Aravalli Action Plan” in collaboration with the central government, aiming to restore the Aravalli ecosystem across 29 districts in four states, including five in Haryana. Moreover, several dams have been constructed in the Shivalik hills to improve groundwater recharge and ensure drinking water availability for wildlife.
The Chief Minister reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Haryana greener and pollution-free, emphasizing that no government scheme can succeed without public participation. He encouraged citizens to report sick trees to the Forest Department and to mark personal milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries by planting trees.
CM Saini also revealed that development works worth ₹2,446 crore have been completed in the Kalka constituency since 2014, compared to just ₹304 crore during the previous decade under Congress rule. Out of 171 announcements made for the constituency, 60 have been fulfilled, and 9 are under implementation.
Forest Minister Rao Narbir Singh, who was present at the event, urged the public to treat Van Mahotsav as a people’s movement, not merely a ceremonial function. He emphasized the need for long-term care of planted saplings to ensure a cleaner and greener environment.
Kalka MLA Shakti Rani Sharma praised CM Saini’s leadership and development initiatives in the region, particularly in promoting eco-tourism and adventure sports in Morni. She appealed to citizens to actively contribute to environmental protection by planting more trees.
The event was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary of Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department Anand Mohan Sharan, PCCF Vineet Garg, CM’s OSD B.B. Bharti, and other dignitaries.
