Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav praises Haryana's green initiatives
Manesar, Aug 7
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday joined Haryana's 77th Van Mahotsav celebrations at Manesar and praised the state for working on the Centre's recommendations to protect the Aravallis and prevent air pollution.
Yadav planted a sapling on the occasion and said that a recent review had shown good progress in the state on pollution control measures like smart traffic management and industrial emission monitoring, said an official statement
The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that he had reviewed the air quality situation in Haryana a few days ago and was happy to note that the state government has taken cognisance of his recommendations and worked to carry them forward.
The recommendations called for housing societies to have solid waste management rules in place, industries to install Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs), implementation of smart traffic management and undertaking of greening activities.
Yadav stressed the importance of grasslands and woodlands for soil conservation and maintaining the water table and added that good work has been done in the state in this direction as well.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that Van Mahotsav is not merely a programme for planting saplings but an opportunity to repay our debt to nature.
He said that while the world today talks of environmental protection, India accorded nature the status of worship thousands of years ago.
Saini said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the guiding mantra of planting 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', under which a target of 1.4 crore trees has been set for the state this year, with the participation of different stakeholders.
He said it is the collective responsibility of all to make the Aravallis green again.
The Chief Minister said the major highlight of this year's celebrations was that District-Level Van Mahotsav programs were simultaneously organized across all the districts of Haryana.
The events were graced by State Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Chairpersons of Boards and Corporations, Deputy Commissioners and other public representatives of the respective districts, he added.
Dignitaries present on the dais included State Minister for Environment and Forests Rao Narbir Singh, public representatives and senior officials of the state government.
— IANS
Reader Comments
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' is such a beautiful initiative by PM Modi. In our culture, we've always worshipped nature – planting trees for our mothers is the perfect way to combine tradition with environmental responsibility. 🙏
It's encouraging to see state governments taking environmental issues seriously. The focus on smart traffic management and industrial emission monitoring shows a practical approach, not just symbolic gestures. Though I hope the implementation is as strong as the announcements.
As someone from Gurugram, I can tell you the Aravallis need urgent attention. The illegal mining and construction activities have done so much damage. Glad to see the Centre and state working together on this. But we need stricter enforcement, not just recommendations.
Van Mahotsav is such a wonderful tradition! I remember planting trees in school during this festival. It's great that they're connecting it to modern environmental challenges like air pollution. The future generations will thank us for this foresight. 🌿
Good to see India's commitment to environmental protection. The 1.4 crore tree target is ambitious – let's hope all stakeholders, from industries to housing societies, actually follow through. The recommendations for OCEMS and solid waste management are particularly important for long-term impact.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.