Kanpur: A mega tree plantation drive will be held at 500 identified locations across the city on July 12, during which around 35.84 lakh saplings will be planted by govt officials from various departments.Under the programme, seven special theme-based forests will be developed across the city, while Gokul Vatikas will be created at 51 cow shelters.The main event will be held at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology at 9am, where Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan will be the chief guest.The govt has appointed Dr M.K. Shanmuga Sundaram, principal secretary (Labour and Employment), as the nodal officer for the plantation drive.Divisional forest officer Akanksha Jain said preparations for the campaign have been completed.As per the department-wise targets, she said, the Forest Department will plant 8.55 lakh saplings, while other departments have been assigned a target of planting 27.29 lakh saplings.During the campaign, saplings of various species—including mango, mahua, peepal, pakad, banyan, drumstick (sahjan), semal, siris, shisham, jamun, gular, bael, bahera, ashoka, kadam, amla, guava, pomegranate, and tamarind—will be planted.District magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh appealed to residents to actively participate in the campaign, urging every citizen to plant a tree in their mother’s name under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative and pledge to nurture it.
