CM Yogi Adityanath to launch 'Maha Vriksharopan 2026' from Gorakhpur on July 12; target set to plant 35 crore trees
Gorakhpur, July 12
The Uttar Pradesh government will launch its mega plantation drive, 'Maha Vriksharopan 2026', on July 12, with a target to plant 35 crore saplings across the state under the central theme "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam", the Chief Minister's Office said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will officially launch the environmental campaign from Gorakhpur.
As part of the launch event, the Chief Minister will establish the 'Holy Triveni Plantation and Development Garden' in Gorakhpur. Further, in a boost to sustainable agriculture and green incentives, CM Adityanath will distribute certificates to local farmers under the Carbon Credit Scheme.
According to the CMO, the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign aims to give new impetus to environmental protection.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that investment and employment opportunities were now expanding beyond Noida and Ghaziabad to districts like Kushinagar and Gorakhpur, adding that the state's youth no longer need to migrate in search of jobs.
Addressing a public gathering in Kushinagar, the Chief Minister said that if previous governments had focused on development, the youth of the region would not have been forced to leave their homes for employment.
"If the previous governments had taken interest, the youth of Kushinagar would not have migrated. Today, when recruitment takes place in the UP Police or any examination is conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, and I distribute appointment letters in Lucknow, it gives me immense joy to see a youth from Kushinagar also receiving an appointment letter," CM Yogi said.
Targeting previous governments, CM Yogi alleged that before 2017, there was neither intent nor policy for development, leading to a lack of investment and stalled projects.
"Before 2017, there was no initiative on their part. That is why there was no investment either, and development works had come to a standstill," he said.
The Chief Minister also accused the previous Samajwadi Party government of corruption and alleged that benefits meant for the poor were being misused.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Carbon credits for farmers is actually a smart move — incentives can drive real change. But we also need to ensure these trees are maintained for at least 3-5 years. So many drives fizzle out after the photo ops.
Good initiative, but I wish they'd focus more on cleaning our rivers and tackling air pollution in cities like Lucknow and Kanpur. Tree plantation alone won't solve everything.
As someone who works in environmental science, I appreciate the scale. But please — prioritize fruit-bearing and medicinal trees. That way, communities benefit long-term, and it's not just bureaucracy ticking boxes.
The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign is beautiful! 🌱 I'll definitely plant one for my mother. But I hope the government also involves local communities in post-planting care. Wastage of resources is a real concern.
Yogi ji's point about youth not needing to migrate is valid — finally investment is reaching Purvanchal. But we need concrete data on job creation, not just appointment letters. Let the numbers speak.
I'm all for tree planting, but 35 crore saplings in one go seems unrealistic without proper monitoring. Why not set
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