Adityanath reports environmental concerns and launches 35 million sapling

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, July 12, 2026 expressed concern over environmental degradation and said that people take care of their own health but often ignore the health of Mother Earth as he launched the state’s ‘Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to plant 35 million saplings.

“Mother is the most beautiful gift for every person and every living being. This gift is present for all of us in the form of Mother Earth. We care about our own health. We visit doctors from time to time but we do not make any arrangements for the treatment of Mother Earth on whom we all depend. It is only because of her that life alone survives but we do not think about her health,” said Mr. Adityanath.

He said protecting the well-being of Mother Earth was essential for humanity’s own well-being and stressed that tree plantations were vital to sustain all forms of life for future generations.

Mr. Adityanath said this while launching the mega campaign ‘Ek Pedh Maa ke Naam’ in Gorakhpur, under which 35 lakh saplings will be planted in a single day. As part of the campaign, he planted sacred saplings of ‘Triveni’ (Neem, Peepal and Banyan) near Bhagwanpur Toll Plaza on Gorakhpur Link Expressway, the UP government said in a statement.

On his way back to Gorakhnath Temple, the Chief Minister also planted a Maulshri sapling along Tal Ring Road near RKBK.

Mr. Adityanath pointed out that since assuming power in 2017, the BJP-led government in the state had started efforts to replace halogen lights with LED street lights.

“This switch has saved the UP government Rs 100 crore and significantly reduced the carbon emissions caused by halogen lights. This is a move towards renewable energy,” Mr Adityanath noted.

He also mentioned the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana’ which provides solar panels, saying it has effectively halved electricity bills while creating a new source of green energy.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s Ujjwala Yojana, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided free LPG connection to 10 million families, with 2 million families benefiting only in Uttar Pradesh.

“Ayodhya has become the first solar city in the state. Street lights and lighting in government buildings are powered exclusively by electricity generated in the solar city itself. All necessary steps have been taken to fulfill our commitment to nature,” he said.

Talking about the plantation programme, Mr. Adityanath said, “Paudhropan Mahabhiyan is a ‘mahayagya’ expressing gratitude to Mother Earth. In the last 9 years, along with the rapid pace of physical development in the state, the forest area has also expanded.” He noted that one tree absorbs hundreds of tons of carbon dioxide. Over the past nine years, the increase in forest cover in Uttar Pradesh has led to the absorption of 6.37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and the release of 4.63 tonnes of oxygen.

He added that on the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the ‘Ek Pedh Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, 5 lakh saplings were planted on June 5 this year, which is World Environment Day. More than 35 million saplings were planted last year, taking the total to 242 million saplings planted in the state in the last nine years.

The chief minister said that environmental degradation has disrupted the weather, leading to a delay in the onset of monsoon by almost a month. As a result, crops that are usually sown by mid-June will now be planted around mid-July, which he said could reduce agricultural output by 25 to 30 percent.

He added that environmental imbalances had contributed to increasingly erratic weather, including periods of extreme heat and severe frost, and warned that global warming could eventually submerge several coastal cities while other regions face acute water shortages.

He added that as president of the International Solar Alliance, Prime Minister Modi urged the world to adopt sustainable practices.

“We have to not only plant the saplings but also ensure their proper care. Farmers who have planted trees in their fields also get financial benefits under the Carbon Credit Finance Scheme,” he said.

Mr. Adityanath urged everyone to be a part of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign by planting at least one sapling in memory of their ancestors and loved ones and in honor of family members.

In the program, the Minister of State (independent charge) for forests and the environment, Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena said there has been an increase in greenery in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun report, Uttar Pradesh has advanced to the second position in the country in terms of increase in greenery.

“Once today’s planting is complete, the total number of saplings planted in Uttar Pradesh in the last 10 years will reach 275 million. In this year’s Paudhropan Mahabhiyan, 30 percent of the saplings planted are fruiting,” Saxena said.

The construction of the Forestry University announced by the Chief Minister in Gorakhpur will start soon, he added.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 09:29 IST