More than 50,000 saplings were planted across the country on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya. This is a part of a nationwide plantation drive led by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan in collaboration with the Vriksh Mitra Parivar. The campaign drew further momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative. The programme was organised today in New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Chouhan said Hariyali Amavasya is not only a religious occasion but also an opportunity to express gratitude towards nature. The Minister urged every citizen to plant at least one tree each year and encourage five others to join the campaign. Mr Chouhan also called upon panchayats, urban local bodies and institutions to identify designated areas for plantation so that saplings can be protected and maintained over the long term. Highlighting the close link between environmental sustainability and agriculture, the Minister said environmental degradation directly affects farming, water availability, soil health and human well-being.
