Lucknow: Forest Department targets to plant 39 lakh saplings

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 30 : As the Yogi government has planned to plant 350 million saplings this year to expand Uttar Pradesh's green areas, the Forest Department in Lucknow has set a target to plant 39 lakh saplings.
Apart, four gardens will be built, including Heritage Tree Vatika, Vanar Vatika, Shakti Vatika and Ayush Vatika. Vanar Vatika to include plants that would provide food for monkeys.
"We plant 35 crore saplings in the state every year. The target for Lucknow is 39 lakh saplings. The forest department will sow 15 lakh and 24 lakh will be from the other different departments. Four main gardens are being constructed. Virasat Vriksh Vatika, Vanar Van for monkeys, Pavitra Dhara Vatika and Shakti Vatika to be done by women. Trees of various fruits and vegetables would be planted in the Vanar Van for the monkeys to consume," District Forest Officer (DFO), Lucknow Sitashu Pandey told ANI.
He further said that from July 1 onwards, free saplings will be distributed.
"This time, we will plant five different kinds of plants. Firstly, environment-related saplings will be planted which will help produce oxygen. Then, plant-protein-based saplings like sesame will be planted. Next, herbal plants like Neem and fruit-bearing saplings will be planted. At last, flowers-bearing plants will be grown," he further said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke about the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign launched on World Environment Day, appealing to the citizens and people worldwide to join the tree plantation initiative with their mothers to celebrate both motherhood and the environment.
While addressing the nation in his 111th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday PM Modi said that with the thought of doing something for our Mother, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was launched across the country on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5 which is progressing rapidly.
"If I ask you which is the most precious relationship in the world, you will definitely say - 'Mother'. In all our lives, the status of 'mother' is the highest. A mother nurtures her child despite facing every pain. Every mother shows affection for her child. This love of the mother who gave birth to us is like a debt on all of us which no one can repay. We cannot give anything to Mother, but can we do anything else? With this thought in mind, a special campaign has been started on World Environment Day this year, the name of this campaign is - 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'. I have also planted a tree in the name of my mother," he said.
"I have appealed to all my countrymen, people of all the countries of the world to plant a tree along with their mother or in her name. I am very happy to see that the campaign of planting trees in the memory or honour of Mother is progressing rapidly," the Prime Minister added.