Uttar Pradesh State of Hindistan to Plant 38 Million Trees Along the Banks of 13 Rivers

The government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the Uttar Pradesh state of Hindistan is launching a comprehensive environmental project called "Plantation Mahayagya-2026". As part of this massive green mission, a total of over 3.83 crore (approximately 38.3 million) trees and plants are planned to be planted along the banks of 13 major rivers across the state. The project has been designed to cover a vast geographical area, encompassing Hindistan's most sacred and largest rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna. Officials are carrying out this work with great meticulousness to restore the ecological balance of the riverbanks and prevent erosion. The government hopes that this initiative will both create lasting positive impacts on the regional ecosystem and inspire environmental protection efforts at the national level.

The banks of the Yamuna River stand out as the most intensive application area for this mega plantation project. As part of the "Continuous Flow Plantation Program" conducted under the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a total of 647 different points have been identified in the Yamuna River basin. These areas cover a surface area of approximately 6.531 hectares, and the goal is to plant over 1 crore, 8 lakh, 18 thousand (more than 10.8 million) saplings in this region. These figures clearly demonstrate the central role of the Yamuna basin in the project and the importance given to the conservation of the river. Officials aim to improve water quality and support biodiversity through this green belt along the riverbank.

Another important leg of the project is the Ganga, known as the most sacred river in Hinduism. Along the banks of the Ganga, over 79.86 lakh (approximately 7.9 million) plants will be planted across an area of roughly 4.495 hectares at 603 different locations. This comprehensive plantation work will be carried out in the forest areas along the Ganga, such as Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Kashi Wildlife, and Ballia. These regions hold great importance both in terms of religious tourism and for harboring ecological diversity. The preservation of the water level and environmental health of the Ganga is considered a factor that will directly affect the quality of life of the local population.

Not only the Ganga and Yamuna, but a total of 13 rivers—Gomti, Sarayu (Ghaghara), Sai, Betwa, Rapti, Chhoti Gandak, Son, Ramganga, Ken, Hindon, and Chambal—are part of this environmental mission. A total of 2.673 different plantation points have been marked in areas encompassing a five-kilometer radius from both banks of the rivers. While the total size of these areas exceeds 22.240 hectares, the number of saplings to be planted reaches 3.83 crore (38.3 million). The specifically designated areas and number of saplings for each river were determined as a result of detailed planning based on the needs of the watersheds. This systematic approach aims to ensure that forest cover is increased in an integrated manner with river ecosystems.

Aditi Sharma, the Chief Conservator of Forests (Publicity/Publication), made important statements regarding the details of the project. Sharma confirmed that during the Plantation Mahayagya-2026 period, the Forest Department will implement the "Continuous Flow" plantation program along 13 riverbanks. Stating that intensive afforestation will be carried out within a five-kilometer radius along the banks of rivers such as Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and Maa Sarayu, she expressed that the department has completed all its preparations for planting 3.83 crore saplings. It was emphasized that under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi, this plantation event will be celebrated with great festive enthusiasm and public awareness will be increased by involving the people in the process. Such large-scale projects are expected to make significant contributions to regional development in terms of combating climate change and the sustainability of natural resources.