Yogi govt plants 11047 saplings at 781 religious sites in 7 days

Lucknow : Launched during Chaitra Navratri, The ‘Shakti Vatika—Aastha va Hariyali’ campaign, which was launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on April 1 and concluded on April 7′, saw 11,047 saplings planted at 781 religious sites by the Forest Department.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the initiative by planting a Rudraksha sapling at Atal Residential School in Nawabganj Tehsil, Bareilly.

The highest number of plantations took place in the Gorakhpur division, where 1,159 saplings were planted at 44 locations. Significant plantation drives were also carried out in Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and other districts.

According to Deepak Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Planning and Agro Forestry), the campaign covered all districts of Uttar Pradesh. He said, “Shakti Vatikas were established within temple premises, ashrams, schools, and other spiritual or public spaces during the drive.”

He added, “The initiative witnessed enthusiastic participation from women, public representatives, temple administrators and priests, villagers, school children, devotees, NGOs, and Nagar Panchayats. Many locations also undertook symbolic ‘Tri-Shakti’ plantation, with Neem representing Maa Durga, Mango for Maa Saraswati, and Kadamba for Maa Parvati. In addition, saplings of medicinal, religious, and ecologically significant species such as Peepal, Banyan, Tulsi, Ashoka, Hibiscus, and Pomegranate were planted.”

He added, “School students adopted saplings and pledged to nurture them, adding a sense of personal responsibility and long-term commitment to environmental conservation.”

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Division Religious places Plants planted
Gorakhpur 44 1159
Jhansi 24 942
Lucknow 51 864
Moradabad 43 787
Saharanpur 69 716
Kanpur 49 699
Ayodhya 38 681
Devipatan 50 670
Agra 25 614
Meerut 62 569
Chitrakoot 25 493
Bareilly 96 488
Varanasi 32 473
Basti 21 444
Mirzapur 40 401
Prayagraj 33 358
Aligarh 58 349

Azamgarh 21 340

Total 781 11047