In Uttar Pradesh, a new record was created yesterday by planting more than 25 crore saplings in a single day. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated various institutions and government departments for participating in this ‘Van Mahotsav’ drive while maintaining social distancing and said that despite the corona crisis such big events can be held.
The unique feature of this year’s plantation drive was to keep children and old age persons away from it due to corona crisis and use of those plants who have medicinal properties.
More than 8 lakh sites were identified for this drive and each one was geo tagged for getting the accurate data. The government has identified 201 varieties of saplings for the drive which includes fruits, Ayurvedic plants, and other environment friendly varieties. The beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna were given a drumstick sapling sling with their house and beneficiaries of Pradhanmantri kisan samman nidhi were also encouraged to plant a tree.
Last year, the state went for a plantation drive of 22 crore saplings,11 crore saplings in 2018 and in 2017, the number was 5 crore. The Chief Minister said that almost 95 percent saplings planted last year are safe. He said that during the Corona pandemic, important Auryavedic plants are providing immunity to the people from this virus.
