Chandigarh Administration to plant 1 lakh saplings at 253 places tomorrow
Reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability and public engagement in greening efforts, the UT Administration will celebrate Van Mahotsav 2025 with a mega plantation initiative on July 5.
“The plantation drive will be held across 253 locations in the city, with an ambitious target of planting over one lakh saplings on a single day,” said UT Home-cum-Environment Secretary Mandip Singh Brar here today.
The celebrations will be led by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria as chief guest, who is the inspiration behind the initiative. The event will commence with a ceremonial plantation by the Governor at Rajendra Park, Sector 1, marking the official launch of the plantation drive. Nearly 11,000 samplings will be plants at Rajendra Park, he said.
Underscoring the importance of the initiative, the Governor will visit and inspect several plantation sites, including leisure Valley, PEC, PU, Shanti Kunj, Patiala ki Rao, Fragrance Garden, Garden of Spring, GMCH-32, neighbourhood parts in sectors, mango orchard, etc, across Chandigarh.
The drive is being spearheaded by the UT Department of Forests and Wildlife, in coordination with the Municipal Corporation, Engineering Department, and 18 other greening agencies, including the School Education and Higher Education Departments, Central Armed Police Forces, CISF, PGIMER, CSIR institutions, PU, GMCH and NSS volunteers, among others.
To enhance public accessibility and promote wider citizen participation, under Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar scheme of Forest Department, the Governor will also flag off three
specially designated vehicles that will carry saplings across the city as per the fixed schedule. These mobile sapling distribution vehicles will cover all the sectors in the union territory, making it easier for residents to join the plantation movement.
Interested individuals can obtain saplings at a nominal cost, thereby contributing directly to the greening of Chandigarh and fostering a sense of shared environmental responsibility.
“This year’s Van Mahotsav introduces a number of new and impactful initiatives: Gap plantation; addressing empty spaces in existing green areas to optimise tree cover; ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, a heartwarming initiative encouraging schoolchildren to plant a tree in the name of their mother; ‘Van Vibhag Aapke Dwar’, outreach by the Forest Department to take plantation efforts directly to local communities,” Brar said.
In an innovative step towards digital monitoring selected plantations carried out in educational institutions will be tracked using QR codes, integrated with a dedicated mobile application. The system will ensure ongoing care and monitoring of saplings. Moreover, every participant planting a sapling will receive a digital certificate of appreciation, recognizing their personal contribution to environmental protection.
Van Mahotsav 2025 is envisioned not just as a one-day event, but as a citizen-driven environmental movement. With the active involvement of government departments, educational institutions, scientific bodies, and the general public, Chandigarh aims to further solidify its position as a leader in sustainable urban development, he added.
Brar said ‘tree map’ of Chandigarh had been prepared and will be launched on July 5.
Chandigarh