Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary released an 11-point pledge for environmental protection on Bihar Prithvi Diwas-2026 on Sunday, urging residents to turn conservation into a mass movement and incorporate the commitments into their daily lives.Marking the day, Choudhary also planted saplings at his official residence, Lok Sevak Awas. He planted Kalpataru and Rudraksh saplings and appealed to people across the state to participate actively in protecting nature.The pledge calls on every person to plant at least one sapling each year and protect and nurture it until it grows into a tree. It also asks citizens not to pollute ponds, rivers, pokhars and other water bodies in their surroundings and to motivate others to safeguard these sources.Water conservation is a major part of the pledge. It advises people not to use more water than necessary, keep taps closed after use and encourage family members to adopt rainwater harvesting at home, in schools and in neighbourhoods. It also stresses prudent use of electricity, including switching off bulbs and fans when leaving the house.The document urges citizens to maintain cleanliness at home, in schools and nearby areas and dispose of waste only in dustbins. It calls for an end to the use of plastic and polythene, promoting cloth or paper bags instead, while encouraging others to follow the practice.Other commitments include showing compassion towards living beings, animals and birds, and arranging feed and water for them as far as possible. The pledge encourages walking or cycling for nearby work, avoiding unnecessary use of paper, ending open defecation and using toilets.State environment, forest and climate change department additional chief secretary Anand Kishore and chief minister’s secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh were present at the programme. The initiative was presented as part of statewide efforts to strengthen responsibility for environmental protection.
