Harela festival: Uttarakhand targets to plant 10 lakh saplings
On the occasion of Harela, the festival of greenery, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat started the campaign by planting saplings today. Governor Baby Rani Maurya started the Harela campaign at Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from his residence. First Chief Minister planted saplings at his government residence. After this, saplings were planted in Nalapani area.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has called upon the people of the state to join the Harela festival and plant a tree today. He also shared a video message about the importance of Harela festival and appealed to everyone to join. The video was released on social media.
In this message, he said that Harela is a traditional festival. It reflects our obligation to our values, tradition and environment. Everyone understands the importance of greenery. The CM said that ‘we understand the importance of trees to strengthen the cycle of nature, save water, land, forest and health. That is why our elders started the tradition of celebrating such a festival. You can also plant plants in your homes.’
Today the Forest Department will plant around 7.5 lakh saplings on the Harela festival. While around 2.5 lakh saplings will be planted by the Department of Horticulture. Starting from Thursday, the campaign will run till August 15. Information about how many saplings were planted today is not available yet.
Effect of Covid-19 on Plantation
In view of the Covid-19 infection, the Forest Department has issued separate instructions this time. People have been asked not to gather more than 50 people for planting saplings. Use a mask and sanitizer. Plants should be planted in small groups.
Plant will be available for free on this condition
To plant Harela, the forest department will provide free saplings, but you will also have to tell how these plants will be protected. According to the Chief Conservator of Forests, saplings can be planted in government offices, school premises etc. as there are safety measures already in place but if someone is planting saplings in the open then first they have to tell what they did to save the saplings.
2.5 crore saplings to be planted under Harela Abhiyan
Under the Harela campaign, a target has been set to plant around 25 million saplings by August 15 this time. According to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Jayaraj, the Forest Department had started a campaign to plant saplings from the Forest Festival held on July 6. Now by August 15, about 2.5 crore saplings will be planted in the state. Apart from the forest department, NGOs and others are also planting saplings.
11 lakh plants to be planted under MNREGA
Under the Harela campaign, about 11 lakh saplings will be planted under MNREGA by 15 August. According to MGNREGA Project Officer, planting has been started under MNREGA. Efforts are made to plant more and more plants on Harela festival. This campaign will continue throughout the monsoon and 11 lakh saplings will be planted in it.
Record plantation drive in Dehradun
Today’s record will be made on Harela festival. 2.75 lakh saplings will be planted in the district in an hour. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has started the campaign by planting banyan plant in Asthal village of Raipur. As part of the campaign, saplings were planted in the entire district from 9 to 10 am.
The district administration will conduct a big campaign again this year on the Harela festival. Two years ago, two lakh saplings were planted on the Harela festival on 22 July 2018 under the Rishiparna Abhiyan from Rispana. This time, despite the Corona impact, the target was to plant 2.75 lakh saplings in an hour. Information about how many saplings were planted today is not available yet.
