Jaipur, Aug 2 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has launched the drone seeding process and called for mass movement on tree plantation.
He said on Saturday that climate change has emerged as one of the world’s biggest challenges, making tree plantation and forest conservation an urgent priority.
He called for transforming environmental protection into a people’s movement to safeguard the future of coming generations.
Addressing the state-level inauguration of the Van Mahotsav at the Dudh Talai forest range in Udaipur, the Chief Minister said rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, air and water pollution, and the rapid loss of biodiversity pose serious threats to humanity.
He stressed that forests are the foundation of human life and that protecting them is a shared responsibility.
Sharma said the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day, has strengthened public awareness about environmental conservation while symbolising respect for mother Earth.
He added that initiatives such as the Nagar Van Yojana, CAMPA Fund, Green India Mission, and the National Afforestation Programme have given fresh momentum to conservation efforts across the country.
He also noted that Prime Minister Modi has been honoured with the UN Champions of the Earth Award for his contributions to environmental protection.
The Chief Minister said the Rajasthan government has launched Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan to expand the state’s green cover.
“Under the campaign, the state government has set a target of planting 50 crore saplings over five years, of which nearly 20 crore have already been planted in the last two years. A further target of 10 crore saplings has been fixed for the current monsoon season.”
He added that geo-tagging of saplings and their maintenance through Van Mitras and Vriksh Mitras are being undertaken to improve survival rates.
“The state is also developing Namo Nurseries at every district headquarters and Namo Vans at the Panchayat Samiti level to increase green cover and encourage community participation.”
Highlighting Rajasthan’s environmental legacy, Chief Minister Sharma recalled the sacrifice of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, her three daughters and 362 others who laid down their lives to protect trees, describing it as an “unparalleled example of environmental conservation”.
Referring to the Skanda Purana, the Chief Minister said that Indian culture has long regarded nature as sacred, with traditions that revere the Earth as a mother, rivers as goddesses and trees as divine.
He added that trees such as Peepal, Ashoka, Mango and Bilva, along with festivals, including Hariyali Teej, Basant Panchami and Mahashivratri, reflect India’s deep-rooted respect for nature.
The Chief Minister said it was encouraging that more people are planting trees to mark birthdays, wedding anniversaries, memorials and other special occasions, indicating that tree plantation is evolving into a social value rather than remaining merely a government programme.
He urged citizens to actively participate in Mission Hariyalo Rajasthan and plant as many trees as possible during the current monsoon season under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
During the programme, Chief Minister Sharma inaugurated a Rs 33 crore sandalwood forest project at the Dudh Talai forest range by planting a sandalwood sapling.
He said the project would promote environmental conservation while creating new opportunities for rural livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and the green economy.
In the first phase, sandalwood forests will be developed in Udaipur, Sirohi, Banswara and Pratapgarh, which he added could become a model for similar initiatives across the country.
The Chief Minister also handed over a symbolic cheque for Rs 6 crore as livelihood incentive assistance to 600 self-help groups from 13 districts under the Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project.
He also launched the drone seeding process and visited an exhibition showcasing sandalwood plantations, forests and forest produce, as well as displays based on ‘Panch Gaurav’.
–IANS
arc/khz