Ministry of Water Resources on July 20 said that the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) launched the “Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan” campaign in five main Ganga basin states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The tree plantation initiative was launched on July 9 and continued till July 15, the week is observed as ‘Shubharambh Saptah’.
State Forest Departments of these five states have been made the nodal agencies for the smooth and effective execution of the mentioned campaign.
Divisional Forest Officers were been designated as the district level nodal officer and Chief Conservator of Forest at the state level for organizing the events. Under the campaign plantation activity events are being carried out all along the banks of the River Ganga with mass level participation at over 100 locations in five states.
Apart from that, the participation from Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Ganga VicharManch, NGOs and educational institutions has been very encouraging.
The ministry stated, “The campaign which has been initiated as part of the Forest Interventions in Ganga (FIG), component of Namami Gange programme, is of immense importance and aims to bring greater awareness among people and other stakeholders regarding the importance of afforestation for the task of Ganga rejuvenation.”
Under the campaign number of schools, colleges and departments have been requested to “Adopt a Plant”. Various seminars, workshops, lectures, painting and drawing competitions etc. are being organized for turning this campaign into a people’s movement.
Some of the plants which are being sown during the campaign are Kanji, Sheesham, Jamun, Arjun, Mango, Neem, Semal, Gulmohar, Sagwan, Mahogni, Bamboo, Ashwagandha, Curry Patta, Dhatura, Sarpgandha and many more.
