Gorakhpur, July 12 (IANS). Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while launching the 35 crore plantation campaign under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign on Sunday, said that environmental protection is not just a government program but a national responsibility for the safe future of the coming generations. He said that Uttar Pradesh has set an example of rapid industrial and infrastructure development as well as increasing forest cover, which is a model of balance between development and nature.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath started the ‘One Tree in the Name of Mother’ Tree Plantation Mahayagya-2026 by planting a Maulshree sapling in Gorakhpur. On this occasion, he said that the earth is our mother and it is the duty of every citizen to ensure his participation in its conservation. Referring to the Vedic mantra ‘Mata Bhoomi: Putroham Prithivya’, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made tree plantation a campaign of public participation and with this thinking, an inspiring theme like ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ was given.
He said that record work has been done in the field of expressway, airport, industry, railway and urbanization in Uttar Pradesh, but despite this the state has continuously expanded its forest cover. He said that in the last nine years, the target of planting 242 crore saplings has been successfully achieved in the state and this year on July 12, a target has been set to plant more than 35 crore saplings on a single day.
Chief Minister Yogi said that it has become clear from satellite survey and assessment of various institutions that the forest area of Uttar Pradesh has increased. He said that due to the plants planted last year, it was estimated that about 4.30 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide was absorbed, which is a big achievement in the direction of environmental protection.
Yogi Adityanath said that the whole world is facing serious challenges like global warming, water crisis and pollution. Many cities are facing gas chamber-like conditions and the rising sea level is indicating a serious threat to the future. He said that this situation is the result of indiscriminate tampering with nature, cutting of trees, neglect of water conservation and illegal encroachments on ponds. He said that the Central and State Governments have worked at many levels for environmental protection.
Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, he said that crores of families in the country, including two crore families in Uttar Pradesh alone, were provided free LPG connections. This freed mothers and sisters from smoke and reduced the risk of respiratory diseases. The Chief Minister appealed to the people of the state not to consider tree plantation as just a one-day programme, but also take a pledge to conserve the plants, so that a clean, safe and green environment can be provided to the coming generations.
–IANS
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