Nayab Singh Saini leads Haryana's 77th State-Level Van Mahotsav, calls for people's movement to protect environment
Manesar, August 7
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday called upon citizens to actively participate in environmental conservation, saying protecting nature should become a people's movement rooted in India's cultural values. Addressing the 77th State-Level Van Mahotsav in Manesar as the chief guest, the Chief Minister said tree plantation is not merely a government programme but a collective responsibility towards future generations.
Speaking at the event, Saini said that Van Mahotsav represents a commitment to repay humanity's debt to nature and urged people to convert their resolve for environmental protection into a lasting value system.
"Van Mahotsav is not just a tree plantation programme. It is an opportunity to transform our commitment into a value system and that value system into a mass movement," he said.
Congratulating officials of the Forest Department and citizens contributing to the state's green initiatives, the Chief Minister said India has always regarded nature with reverence and that environmental conservation has been an integral part of the country's Sanatan cultural tradition for centuries.
He informed that the first phase of this year's Van Mahotsav was organised in Karnal on July 30 and announced that similar plantation programmes would now be held across all 90 Assembly constituencies of Haryana to encourage wider public participation.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign, Saini said the Haryana Government has worked to transform the initiative into a statewide public movement by encouraging citizens to plant trees in the name of their mothers.
The Chief Minister said preserving the greenery and ecological balance of rapidly developing regions such as Manesar and Gurugram is a shared responsibility. He announced that the state government would undertake large-scale plantation drives on Panchayat and public lands and is preparing a scheme to encourage farmers to conserve rare and endangered tree species.
Highlighting the state's achievements in environmental conservation, Saini said Haryana planted 15.2 million saplings during the 2025-26 financial year. He added that the government has established 58 herbal parks to promote the conservation and cultivation of medicinal plants and is developing Panchvati plantations in every village to enhance green cover and improve the natural environment.
He further said that 610 Van Mitras have been engaged to protect planted saplings and expand forest cover across the state. The government has also expanded the Pran Vayu Devta Yojana to recognise and conserve heritage trees of ecological importance.
Emphasising the need to balance infrastructure growth with environmental protection, Saini said development should not come at the cost of nature
"True development is one where roads are built alongside shade-giving trees," he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that Sultanpur National Park and Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary have received international recognition as Ramsar sites. He appealed to every citizen to plant tree species suited to local climatic conditions, saying Haryana's green cover is a shared responsibility.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Haryana's Environment, Forest and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh also addressed the gathering and reiterated the need for collective efforts towards environmental conservation.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone living in Gurugram, I can't stress enough how much we need green cover here. The concrete jungle is suffocating us. I appreciate this initiative but we need strict enforcement too. Plantation is good, but who will water these saplings in summers? The Van Mitra scheme sounds promising - 610 people for the whole state seems less though. Need more grassroots involvement!
Interesting how India integrates traditional values with environmental policy. Coming from the West, it's refreshing to see leaders using cultural heritage as a foundation for climate action rather than just technical solutions. The Panchvati model is particularly fascinating - it's practically ancient agroforestry! 🌳
सर, बात अच्छी है लेकिन हकीकत ये है कि Manesar और Gurugram में हर साल हजारों पेड़ काटे जा रहे हैं। सिर्फ वन महोत्सव के दिन पेड़ लगाने से काम नहीं चलेगा। जो पेड़ लगाए हैं उनकी देखभाल भी ज़रूरी है। प्रशासन को यह सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि 15.2 million saplings में से कितने actually survive कर पाए। Aapki baat से सहमत हूँ, लेकिन implementation ज्यादा जरूरी है। 🌱
It's inspiring to see local leadership taking climate change seriously. The idea of recognizing heritage trees through the Pran Vayu Devta Yojana is something we should adopt globally. Respecting old trees as living entities, rather than just obstacles to urbanization, is a deeper cultural shift we all need.
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