Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government has directed to plant 2.71 lakh saplings across the state to increase green cover and promote sustainability as part of preparations for Mahakumbh 2025.
According to officials, the Forest Department, Municipal Corporation and Prayagraj Development Authority will undertake the campaign in a bid to promote a green event.
Divisional Forest Officer in Prayagraj, Arvind Kumar said that the Forest Department will plant 1.49 lakh saplings with a budget of Rs 29 crore. This includes planting 87,000 saplings on 20 hectares in Saraswati Hitech City, focusing on the vegetable block with a mix of small and large plants.
Additionally, the Forest Department will plant saplings in some areas within the city. The Municipal Corporation Prayagraj and Prayagraj Development Authority will be overseeing the mission to create green belts in the city and this work is expected to be completed by the end of November, the officials said.
As per officials, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to position Prayagraj as a model of cleanliness for Mahakumbh 2025 and extensive collaborative efforts are underway to make the event a benchmark in environmental protection.
In alignment with this vision, the Forest Department, Municipal Corporation, and Prayagraj Development Authority are running a mega plantation drive across the region. Under the campaign, 2 lakh 71 thousand saplings are being planted, to enhance the green cover, they said.
Under the guidance of the Yogi government, all departments of the Kumbh Mela administration are working together to create a grand, clean, and green atmosphere for the Mahakumbh by keeping areas free of polythene and developing green zones all over, the officials added.
Further, the Forest Department will plant saplings along the roads throughout the district. Intensive planting is being done on 18 main roads leading into the city, with 50,000 saplings of trees like Kadamba, Neem, and Amaltash being planted along both sides. Mahakumbh starts with Paush Purnima Snan, which is on 13 January 2025. The Kumbh festival will conclude with the last bath on 26 February 2025, the day of Mahashivratri.