Watched by Guinness, Akhilesh launches ‘record’ plantation drive

KANPUR: Watched by officials of Guinness Book of World Records, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday launched the ‘UP goes Green’ campaign from Mahoba-Hamirpur border by planting a sapling.

Similar plantation drives were launched at nine other places in Uttar Pradesh and, by the end of the day, 10 lakh saplings were planted and distributed at the 10 locations of the state — a feat that could earn UP a Guinness Record.

Waterman of India Rajendra Singh led drive in Mirzapur and district magistrates led the campaign in their cities. “Yes, we have successfully planted 10 lakh saplings in Saturday’s drive and make arrangements for post-plantation care at all the sites,” chief secretary Alok Ranjan said.

Besides Mahoba-Hamirpur, the drive was undertaken in Mirzapur, Sonebhadra, Lalitpur, Lakhimpur Kheri (two sites), Farrukhabad, Chitrakoot, Shravasti and Gautam Buddha Nagar under the watchful eyes of Guinness officials. The water-starved Bundelkhand was specifically chosen for the launch of the campaign to improve the depleting green cover in the region. Under the Rs 200 crore plan, over 2.5 lakh plants were planted in 500 acres of land close to the Mahoba dam alone.

A certificate of plantation of highest number of saplings -- 10 lakh – in a single day is likely to be given at a programme in Saifai (Etawah) on November 21. The present Guinness record is planting of 8.5 lakh saplings in a day.

According to an official, saplings of neem (Azadirachta) jamun (Syzygium Cumini), shisham (Dalbergia Sissoo), amla (Emblica officinalis), pipal, gular, kanji, chilbil, and imli etc were planted.

Giving a call for a green UP, the CM said the government was working to boost tourism in the region that would generate employment for the locals.He said the government was also reviving six rivers, work for which had already begun.

Around Rs 25 crore were spent on cleaning of the canals and officials had been instructed to provide sufficient water to farmers.

“Our plan for Bundelkhand will become a reality soon and each household will have clean, drinking water and each field enough water for irrigation,” said the CM.

Flaying the BJP and BSP, he said the Samajwadi Party government alone had developed the state, adding that the government was working for welfare of farmers without any help from the central government.

“We have created new mandis for the farmers to help them get better prices. We will keep doing the good work,” he said. The effort for a better green cover is aimed at giving a pollution free environment to the future generation, he added. Taking a dig at BSP chief Mayawati without naming her, Akhilesh said a leader recently had announced that if she gets back to power she won’t be building parks and memorials anymore.

“It has become possible because of the development my government has done in last three years,” Yadav claimed.

Later, the CM distributed agricultural equipment and bicycles to the people.