Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a tree plantation drive in Dehradun on Wednesday, as part of the Harela festival festivities. The event, hosted at the Gorkha Military Inter College Campus, echoed the theme of environmental stewardship. Dhami extended greetings and planted a Rudraksha sapling. The Chief Minister stated that Harela is an integral part of Uttarakhand’s culture. A target of planting approximately 5 lakh saplings has been set for the festival day. The government is actively seeking collaboration from the public, voluntary organizations, students, women’s groups, and panchayats to plant fruit trees, with a goal of 50% of the total in each Forest Department division. The government is also promoting the long-term care of the saplings. The Chief Minister referred to various national campaigns and stated that the state government is also working by imbibing these values and the country has set a goal to plant 108 crore saplings this year. The ‘Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA)’ is also working for environmental protection. A ban on single-use plastics and mandatory use of dustbins in vehicles are in effect. Dhami encouraged people to plant trees on special occasions. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said the Harela festival is being celebrated across the state and highlighted the high survival rate of plants. He also pointed out the need for continuous efforts in plantation and water conservation.
