New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the Maharashtra Government’s initiative to plant two crore trees in one day as part an initiative to increase green cover.
“Excellent initiative by the Maharashtra Government, of planting 2 crore trees in one day. Urge everyone in Maharashtra to support & join,” he tweeted.
The forest department in Maharashtra will plant more than two crore saplings today as part of the afforestation drive.
The saplings will be planted in and around schools, hospitals, municipal parks, gardens, road sides and government buildings besides the forest areas.
Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had earlier said the event, kick-starting the government’s ambitious project to plant 50 crore saplings in the state over the next three years, would begin in the Van Mahotsav.
Van Mahotsav or Forest Day is an annual tree-planting festival from July 1 to 7 across India.
Started in 1950 by the Ministry of Agriculture, it has gained immense national importance and every year millions of saplings are planted all across India in observation of the Van Mahotsav. (ANI)