Lucknow : In a historic green initiative, Uttar Pradesh is all set to witness an unprecedented environmental movement as part of the Plantation Maha Abhiyan 2025. On Wednesday, July 9, key state leaders — including Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers, and the entire ministerial cabinet — will participate in a record massive plantation drive across all 75 districts. The ambitious goal: planting over 37 crore saplings in a single day.
Governor Patel will spearhead the initiative in Barabanki, accompanied by State Minister Satish Sharma. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lead the drive in Ayodhya and Azamgarh, supported by Forest Ministers Dr. Arun Saxena and KP Malik. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak will take charge in Meerut and Lucknow respectively.
Cabinet and State Ministers have been assigned districts where they will personally oversee plantation efforts. For example, Suresh Khanna will be in Shahjahanpur, Swatantra Dev Singh in Gorakhpur, and Anil Rajbhar in Azamgarh. Ministers of State (Independent Charge) including Nitin Agrawal, Kapil Dev Agrawal, and Ravindra Jaiswal will also be stationed across key locations to ensure grassroots-level participation.
Administrative Gears in Motion
To ensure seamless coordination, top bureaucrats have already reached their assigned districts as nodal officers. From irrigation and education to tourism and housing, every department is aligning with the Forest Department to synchronize efforts.
The Forest Department has assigned specific officers to liaise with ministries such as MSME, Rural Development, Agriculture, Urban Development, and others. Their unified goal: facilitate inter-departmental cooperation and mobilize resources for the mega drive.
A Greener Riverfront Vision
In a major ecological push, around 3.56 crore saplings will be planted along the banks of major rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, and Gomti. These plantations, to be carried out within 5 km on either side of the rivers, aim to restore green cover, improve soil quality, boost water retention, and support CM Yogi’s river rejuvenation program.
The Yamuna riverfront alone will see 96.78 lakh saplings, followed by 54.80 lakh along the Ganga and 50.61 lakh along the Betwa. Other rivers like Ghaghra, Rapti, Ken, Chambal, and Hindon will also be a focus.
Housing and Urban Development Joins In
The Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board has pledged to plant 1.10 lakh saplings during FY 2025-26 under its schemes across various cities. Notably, Vrindavan, Avadh Vihar, and Amrapali schemes in Lucknow will host over 31,000 plantations. Baghpat and Meerut circles have been assigned the largest targets.
With top-level political will, widespread administrative coordination, and a deeply rooted environmental agenda, Plantation Maha Abhiyan 2025 is set to create a legacy for generations — one sapling at a time.
