Nagpur: Nobody took the state government seriously when it announced in 2015 plans to plant 50 crore saplings, but today, the dream looks a certainty with the way the plantations are taking place, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the concluding function of ‘Vruksh Dindi’, conducted by Green Earth Organization at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Fadnavis said, “11 crore trees have so far been planted to make Maharashtra the greenest state. The saplings are geo-tracked with the aid of satellites which gives real time information about their growth. We also plan to release a half-yearly progress video of the saplings on social media.”
Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar attended the programme.
With a vow of planting 13 crore trees by the end of this year, Green Earth Organization carried out a weeklong mass plantation drive, that began on June 28.
Green Earth Organization, headed by MLA Snil Sule, is a pioneer establishment that has been holding mass tree plantation drives all over Vidarbha since 2016. It has successfully planted over 14 crore saplings in Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Gondia districts till date. In the process, it created five records and found a place in the Limca Book.
Addressing the gathering, Sule said, “Over 5 crore saplings were planted since the start of this year. We aim to take this figure to 13 crore. Not only just planting trees, nourishing them is equally important so that they grow strong. For this, we need citizens to act with a sense of responsibility and help save trees.”
The saplings that the organization has planted under ‘Vruksh Dind’ are being looked after by villagers. Nearly 85% of saplings have survived and are growing fast, said Sule.
The 45-minute ceremony, that got delayed by over two hours, talked about the birth of the foundation and how it has grown over the years.
Performing artistes from Asar Foundation, Wardha, highlighted the various benefits of tree plantation before the start of the programme. The event ended with the audience pledging to plant and protect more trees in their vicinity and at empty spots.
Artistes perform during ‘Vruksh Dindi’ show, organized by Green Earth Organization, at Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines, on Tuesday