Chandigarh launches citywide tree plantation drive with sapling monitoring and sustainability commitment
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Chandigarh: Chandigarh launched its citywide tree plantation drive on Saturday to mark Van Mahotsav 2025, planting over one lakh saplings across 253 pre-identified locations.
For the first time, the drive includes a monitoring mechanism, with the UT forest department requiring undertakings from participating agencies, including government departments and private stakeholders, to maintain the planted trees for at least three years.
The initiative was inaugurated by Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who personally planted saplings at 23 different locations across the city.
Addressing the public, the governor urged citizens to treat the occasion not as a yearly ritual but as a pledge toward the planet's well-being. He emphasised that Van Mahotsav is not merely about planting trees, but about planting hope, balance, and the future itself.
He described the event as a green movement that should resonate through every household, school, and institution in Chandigarh.
The governor also commended the administration's past efforts in creating city forests and urban green corridors. He announced that over five lakh saplings are scheduled to be planted across the UT this year. During the event, he also inaugurated three key environmental policy frameworks: the Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, the State Action Plan on Climate Change, and the Chandigarh Tree Map.
Reaffirming the administration's commitment to sustainability, Governor Kataria aligned Chandigarh's vision with the national mission and reiterated the goal of making the city a Net Zero Emission zone by 2030.
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Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chandigarh plants record 1.17 lakh trees
In one of the largest single-day environmental efforts in the city's history, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria led a massive plantation campaign across Chandigarh to mark Van Mahotsav 2025. Against the target of planting 1,05,874 saplings at 253 identified sites, total 1,17,836 saplings were planted at 318 sites on Friday, transforming parks, road dividers, school campuses and residential areas into green zones. Personally visiting 23 of these locations, Kataria planted a variety of ecologically significant and culturally symbolic saplings — from Crushia at Matka Chowk and Mango at Panjab University to Rudraksha at Raj Bhavan and Triveni (Peepal, Banyan, Neem) at Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest. 'This is not an event, it is a green movement — one that must echo through every household, every school, every institution of Chandigarh,' the Governor said, addressing participants during the drive. 'Van Mahotsav is not merely about planting trees; it is about planting hope, balance, and the future itself.' Home Secretary Mandip Brar, DGP Pushpendra Kumar, MC Commissioner Amit Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests Saurabh Kumar, and other senior officials from the Chandigarh Administration also took part in the drive. Calling upon citizens to treat the annual campaign as a collective environmental responsibility, Kataria invoked Munshi Premchand's words: 'Vrikshon ka arth hai jal, jal se roti aur roti se hi jeevan', stressing that human life depends on trees — for rain, rivers, fertile land and survival itself. Asserting that 'our relationship with nature is not contractual but emotional,' Kataria said the sacred philosophy of Panchmahabhuta — Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Sky — finds a living connector in trees. Citing Guru Nanak Dev Ji's verse, 'Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat', he urged people to respect the environment as one would honour a parent or teacher. Highlighting sobering global data, the Governor pointed out that more than 15 billion trees are lost globally each year, equivalent to the destruction of 40 football fields of forest every second. 'These are not just numbers — they are urgent signals from a wounded planet. We must act now, and act with conviction,' he said. Chandigarh, which already boasts 51.54% green cover, has now set a new benchmark in urban greening. The UT Administration plans to plant over five lakh saplings this year as part of long-term ecological restoration efforts. Kataria also unveiled three key environmental initiatives on the occasion: the Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, the State Action Plan on Climate Change, and the Chandigarh Tree Map. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' for giving emotional depth to environmental action. 'Every tree planted in the name of one's mother is a living tribute — a symbol of love, protection, and nurturing,' the Governor said, urging the youth to carry the movement forward. The day-long campaign saw enthusiastic participation from government officials, schoolchildren, volunteers and residents. Among the locations where Kataria planted saplings were: • Matka Chowk: Crushia • Patiala Ki Rao: Kapur • Panjab University: Mango • Shantikunj & Sector 18 Neighbourhood Park: Neeli Gulmohar • Sector 22 Govt Model School: Shyam Tulsi and Amla (Herbal Garden) • Sector 23: Gardenia • Garden of Spring, Sector 53: Kachnaar • CRPF 13 Battalion Camp: Tulsi • GMCH-32 and Govt College of Education, Sector 20: Gulmohar • CISF Sector 31: Guava • Mango Belt, Sector 26: Biksa Orelana and Mango • Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest: Triveni • Govt Model School, Sector 26: Rudraksha (Taru Vatika) • Punjab Raj Bhavan: Rudraksha
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Chandigarh launches citywide tree plantation drive with sapling monitoring and sustainability commitment
1 2 3 Chandigarh: Chandigarh launched its citywide tree plantation drive on Saturday to mark Van Mahotsav 2025, planting over one lakh saplings across 253 pre-identified locations. For the first time, the drive includes a monitoring mechanism, with the UT forest department requiring undertakings from participating agencies, including government departments and private stakeholders, to maintain the planted trees for at least three years. The initiative was inaugurated by Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who personally planted saplings at 23 different locations across the city. Addressing the public, the governor urged citizens to treat the occasion not as a yearly ritual but as a pledge toward the planet's well-being. He emphasised that Van Mahotsav is not merely about planting trees, but about planting hope, balance, and the future itself. He described the event as a green movement that should resonate through every household, school, and institution in Chandigarh. The governor also commended the administration's past efforts in creating city forests and urban green corridors. He announced that over five lakh saplings are scheduled to be planted across the UT this year. During the event, he also inaugurated three key environmental policy frameworks: the Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, the State Action Plan on Climate Change, and the Chandigarh Tree Map. Reaffirming the administration's commitment to sustainability, Governor Kataria aligned Chandigarh's vision with the national mission and reiterated the goal of making the city a Net Zero Emission zone by 2030.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: DAV College celebrates Van Mahotsav by planting 70 saplings
DAV College, Sector 10 organised a tree plantation drive in campus on Saturday to celebrate Van Mahotsav. The event was held in collaboration with the forest department, Chandigarh, as part of a collective effort to promote environmental sustainability and awareness among students. Principal Mona Narang inaugurated the drive and emphasised the role of youth in preserving the environment. (HT photo for representation) A total of 70 saplings were planted during the drive, including a diverse mix of flowering, medicinal, and fruit-bearing plants. The plantation aimed to enhance the college's green cover while also educating students on the ecological importance of trees. Principal Mona Narang inaugurated the drive and emphasised the role of youth in preserving the environment.
