Chhattisgarh CM inaugurates Van Mahotsav, unveils 'Peepal City' vision
Raipur, Aug 5
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday inaugurated 'Van Mahotsav 2026' and participated in a tree plantation drive under the 'Peepal for People' initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the state government is committed to expanding green cover and has planned to develop the area as a 'Peepal City' in the future.
"Today, we inaugurated Van Mahotsav 2026. We planted Peepal trees under the Peepal for People initiative. In the future, we will develop this area as a Peepal City," CM Sai said.
He recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (A Tree in Mother's Name) campaign and highlighted the state's achievement of planting over seven crore trees in the last two years.
Addressing another issue, the Chief Minister commented on the ongoing protest by teachers of Swami Atmanand schools. He assured that the Education Department would reach out to the protesting teachers and resolve their grievances at the earliest.
"The department will contact them and resolve their issues," he stated.
CM Sai also spoke about the recent cabinet approval of the Chhattisgarh State Artificial Intelligence Mission. He informed that the state is working on five key missions in this year's budget and has allocated Rs 500 crore for the AI Mission over the next five years.
"AI will be utilised across all departments; this will enhance both speed and transparency," the Chief Minister said, underlining the government's focus on technology-driven governance.
The Chief Minister pointed out the state government's multi-pronged approach towards environmental conservation, addressing public concerns and accelerating digital transformation.
The Van Mahotsav celebrations, combined with large-scale plantation efforts, are expected to further strengthen Chhattisgarh's green initiatives. At the same time, the AI Mission aims to improve efficiency in administration and public service delivery.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some good news! 🌿 The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign is such a beautiful concept - connecting environmental responsibility with our cultural values. Over 7 crore trees in two years is impressive, but I want to see the survival rate too. Quality matters more than just numbers!
AI Mission with Rs 500 crore allocation is a welcome step, but I'm more concerned about the teachers' protest. Swami Atmanand schools are doing great work in rural areas, and their teachers deserve proper attention. Hope the government resolves their issues quickly instead of just making promises.
Nice to see Chhattisgarh focusing on both environment and technology! 🌳🤖 But honestly, we need more accountability - who will maintain these trees, and how will the AI mission actually help common people? Just planting trees in cities won't solve the deforestation happening elsewhere.
Peepal tree is like our national heritage - every village has one where people gather! Nice choice for the vision. But I do hope they involve local communities and school children in this mission. Making it a people's movement will ensure these trees actually survive and grow.
It's refreshing to see Indian states taking climate action seriously. But as someone who's worked in conservation, I know that planting native species like Peepal is much better than exotic trees. Hope they also protect existing forests and not just add new ones!
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