Gujarat sets a new record by planting 7 Crore trees

Gandhinagar : Gujarat has set a new milestone by finishing second in the country by planting around 7.15 crore trees during the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, which ran from June 6 to August 6. Surat district outperformed the rest of the state in the effort, planting 58 lakh trees.

Uttar Pradesh leads the country in tree planting with 8.88 crore trees, while India has established a new record with almost 29.37 crore trees planted thus far.

On June 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to mark ‘World Environment Day’. The campaign spread throughout India’s states and union territories, becoming into a popular movement. 

Gujarat, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has achieved a new milestone for growing green cover in the state, planting the second-highest number of over 7.15 crore trees. In terms of population-area, Uttar Pradesh leads the country with 8.88 crore plantations.

Along with this, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has set a new environmental record by planting more than 29.37 crore trees in 37 states and union territories, according to Forest and Environment Minister Mulabhai Bera.

Forest Minister Mulubhai Bera stated that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Prime Minister’s environment-friendly ‘Ek Pad Ma Ke Naam’ campaign by planting a tree in his mother’s name in Gandhinagar for the first time in Gujarat. Gujarat Cabinet members, MLAs, MPs, office bearers, bureaucrats, educational-voluntary organizations, and environmentally conscious citizens are participating in this initiative by planting and nurturing trees in remembrance of their mothers. 

Gujarat presently ranks second in the country after Uttar Pradesh, however Uttar Pradesh remains the largest state with a population of around 19.98 crores and an area of ​​2,40,928 square kilometers, as per the 2011 census. Gujarat, with a population of 6 crores and an area of 1,96,024 square kilometers, leads the country in tree plantation. The minister stated that this achievement is due to all Gujaratis who care about the environment, and he encouraged as many individuals as possible to engage in the campaign.

Mukeshbhai Patel, Minister of State for Forest and Environment, stated that Surat district has the most trees planted in the state, with 57.26 lakh in rural areas and 1 lakh in urban areas, for a total of 58.29 lakh. Apart from this, 43.33 lakh in Bharuch district, 43.33 lakh in Banaskantha, 42.88 lakh in Kutch, 39.83 lakh in Tapi, 34.27 lakh in Panchmahal, 33.10 lakh in Mahisagar, 30.15 lakh in Narmada, and 31 in Valsad. 01 lakh and 29.37 lakh in Dang district, respectively. Over 7.15 crore trees have been planted in 33 districts, encompassing rural and urban areas, as part of the ‘Ek Pad Ma Ke Naam’ program.

The Forest Ministeri went on to say that, with the support of the Forest Department, a large number of Gram Panchayats, Educational-Voluntary Organizations, and tree-loving citizens in urban and rural areas are voluntarily participating and planting a selected tree in memory of their mother to increase Gujarat’s green cover.