Bareilly: As part of the state-wide Vriksharopan Mahayagya 2026, the Forest Department has launched a week-long Van Mahotsav celebration across Bareilly district from July 1 to July 7, focusing on environmental conservation, mass tree plantation, and public awareness.
Officials said that a series of awareness programmes, including morning rallies, street plays, cultural events, painting competitions, essay writing contests, debates, and seminars, will be organized throughout the week in all forest ranges of the district. A special campaign titled “Aam Bahar – Aapke Dwar” has also been launched to distribute mango saplings among residents and encourage community participation in greening efforts.
The district-level Van Mahotsav celebrations began at the Gayatri Shaktipeeth Temple premises in Bareilly Range, where Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Arun Kumar inaugurated the programme by planting a bael sapling. A large sapling distribution drive followed, during which nearly 2,000 saplings of mango, tulsi, pomegranate, guava, and drumstick were distributed among citizens.
Senior forest officials present at the event included P. P. Singh, Diksha Bhandari, Sub-Divisional Forest Officers Vimal Kishore Bhardwaj and Sanjeev Johri, and Regional Forest Officer Vaibhav Chaudhary.
In Faridpur Range, a sapling distribution camp was organized in Faridpur town, where Member of the Legislative Council Kunwar Maharaj Singh distributed around 1,000 saplings of mango, pomegranate, and tulsi to local residents. A plantation drive involving 25 saplings was also carried out near the bus stand.
At Godwin Public School in Baheri Range, students participated in a painting competition on environmental conservation. Tree plantation activities were conducted on the school campus, while a separate awareness seminar was organized in Bakoli Gram Panchayat, where villagers discussed environmental protection and planted 25 saplings on community land.
In Mirganj Range, a mango sapling distribution programme was held at Rahpura Chauraha Temple in Fatehganj West block. Around 100 saplings were distributed among villagers and passersby to promote community-based plantation efforts.
Similarly, in Nawabganj Range, approximately 500 saplings of mango, pomegranate, and jamun were distributed in Hafizganj Gram Panchayat in the presence of local representatives and forest officials.
Forest Department officials said the week-long Van Mahotsav aims to encourage public participation in afforestation, improve green cover, and raise awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. The campaign forms part of Uttar Pradesh’s broader initiative to expand forest cover and promote sustainable ecological practices across the state.
Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
