Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday participated in the state-wide tree plantation program organized on the theme ‘Celebrate Harela festival, repay the debt of mother earth’ at Gorkha Military Inter College campus, Dehradun on Harela. During this, he extended hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the people of the state on the occasion of Harela festival. He planted a Rudraksh plant.
The Chief Minister said that a target has been set to plant 50 percent fruit trees in each division of the Forest Department. He said that in this Mahabhiyan, the government is taking the cooperation of public participation, voluntary organizations, students, women’s groups and panchayats.
Said that we have to ensure that the planted saplings are taken care of regularly till they take the form of trees. He said that Uttarakhand is a state rich in natural beauty and biodiversity, which it is the moral duty of all of us to protect.
Tradition going on for centuries
Agriculture Minister Shri Ganesh Joshi said that the tradition of planting trees after Harela Puja in the month of Shravan in Uttarakhand has been going on for centuries, which is a proof of our cultural consciousness and environmental responsibility. Harela festival teaches us that protecting nature is not just a responsibility, but a sacred duty
Forest Minister Shri Subodh Uniyal said that the folk festival Harela is being celebrated at 2,389 places in the state. He said that in the last three years, the survival rate of plants planted on Harela festival has been more than 80 percent. He described the falling water level as a matter of serious concern and said that for this we will have to make continuous efforts for plantation and conservation of water streams
