Now, plant saplings to make your special days memorable

Now you can make special occasions like the birthday of your wife or children memorable by planting a sapling under the forest department’s “Smriti Vatika” scheme.

The forest department is giving an opportunity to the people to plant saplings at specially-designed ‘Smriti Vatika’ on their birthdays, marriage anniversaries and other special occasions.

‘Smriti vatikas’ will be developed in all the districts of the state. “We have chalked out a plan and selection of land will be finalised in each district of the state,” said in-charge of social forestry in the department.

Announced on Saturday, the first day of Van Mahotsav that marks the commencement of annual plantation drive in UP, these gardens will come up in not less than one hectare area.

CM Yogi Adityanath kickstarted the plantation drive in Kukrail with a target of planting 6.5 crore saplings during the Van Mahotsav. This year’s plantation target is 1.5 crore more than the previous year. During the event, 15,625 saplings were planted in Kukrail forest area.

“It is a novel idea and hopefully it will connect the people, specially the youth, with nature and environment,” said Dwivedi. Apart from these gardens, ‘Nakshatra Vaikas’ will also be developed in all the districts during the campaign.

The forest department will also involve people in developing ‘Nakshatra’ and ‘Navgrah’ gardens, considered to be auspicious. There are 27 trees that have been given names of ‘Nakshatras’ (cosmic stars) such as Ashwani Nakshatra to Kuchila, Bharini to Aonla, Pusya to Peepal tree, and Magha to Banyan tree. Navgrah will have trees named after Sun (Aak), Moon (Dhak) and Brihaspati (Peepal).

As per the plan, forest department will get the lion’s share of planting 4.3 crore saplings out of 6.5 crore and the remaining will be divided among several departments. The species that will be planted include Pakar, Bargad, Kanji, Mahua, Peepal, Neem, Mango, Balamkheera, Amla, Bel and Kachnaar.

DURING THE EVENT WHERE THE CM WAS THE CHIEF GUEST, A TOTAL OF 15,625 SAPLINGS WERE PLANTED IN KUKRAIL FOREST AREA.