Haryana Chief Minister Launches Environmental Conservation Schemes at 75th State-Level Van Mahotsav in Karnal

Haryana Chief Minister Launches Environmental Conservation Schemes at 75th State-Level Van Mahotsav in Karnal

Chandigarh, July 13 – At the 75th state-level Van Mahotsav program in Karnal, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh launched two ambitious environmental conservation schemes: Van Mitra Yojana and Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Yojana, aiming to enhance environmental protection and combat pollution. Under Van Mitra Yojana, individuals, called Van Mitras, will receive Rs. 20 per tree for planting and protecting it. Similarly, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Yojana, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s World Environment Day initiative, provides Rs. 10 per tree to Van Mitras for safeguarding trees planted in honor of one’s mother. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Oxy Forest in Karnal, established on 40 hectares of land, initially conceived by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal in June 2021. This forest features nine types of forest ecosystems and saw 20,000 saplings planted by various community groups, adding to the 10,000 trees already planted. Emphasizing the importance of tree planting, the Chief Minister urged every family to plant a tree to combat environmental pollution, highlighting that a flourishing tree symbolizes a progressive nation, essential for agriculture-based economies like Haryana. The state aims to make urban and rural areas greener by setting up 22 Oxyvans, areas designated for oxygen production, across all districts, with ongoing projects in Panchkula. Additionally, 22,425 hectares in the Aravalli Hills across Gurugram, Nuh, Rewari, and Mahendragarh have been notified as protected forests, with Rs. 6 crore allocated for their conservation. The Chief Minister also mentioned the development of Panchvati gardens in 134 pilgrimages within the 48 Kos perimeter of Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra, enhancing the green cover in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, and Panipat districts. To honor trees older than 75 years, the government has introduced the Pranavayu Devta Pension Scheme, providing an annual pension of Rs. 2750 per tree. In 2023-24, 3819 trees’ guardians received this pension. Other ongoing initiatives include ‘Har Gaon Pedron Ki Chhaanv’, ‘Paudhagiri’, and ‘Har Ghar Hariyali’. The state has planted 18 crore saplings since October 2014, with a target of 1.5 crore saplings this year. The Forest Department will monitor the saplings’ growth through geo-tagging drones for five years to ensure forest area expansion. An international-level medicinal forest has been established in the Morni area, and herbal parks have been developed across various districts. City forests are being developed on 116 acres in Murthal, Sonipat, and 11.25 acres in Sadhaura, Yamunanagar, with similar projects underway in Karnal, Panchkula, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Palwal. About 2500 village forest committees are actively engaging local communities in forest and environmental conservation efforts. Minister of State for Forest and Wildlife, Environment and Sports, Sanjay Singh, urged everyone to plant at least one tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ scheme, contributing significantly to the state’s green and pollution-free mission. Key attendees included Indri MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Wildlife and Environment Department Anand Mohan Sharan, and Chief Forest Conservator and Forest Force Chief Pankaj Goyal.

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