- Over 3.36 lakh saplings will enhance the green future of the district, public participation gives new impetus to the environmental conservation campaign,
- grand district level tree plantation and Hareli festival organised in Dongaria, pledge taken to protect and conserve the planted saplings
On the occasion of Hareli Tihar, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Religious Endowments and Endowments, and Minister in-charge of the district, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, delivered a message of environmental protection and greenery to the residents of the district by planting saplings at the Dongaria pasture on the occasion of Hareli Tihar. Praising the initiative to plant over 336,000 saplings in the district with widespread public participation under the “Green GPM Campaign,” he said that linking a festival like Hareli, associated with nature and agriculture, with environmental protection is a step that will give a new direction to Chhattisgarh’s rich folk tradition.
The district-level tree planting and Hareli festival, organized by the district administration, began with the worship of traditional agricultural tools, the Nagar and the Kopar. Following the tree planting ceremony at the Dongaria pasture, a stage program was held in the auditorium of Eklavya Adarsh Residential School, Dongaria. Public representatives, villagers, students, women from self-help groups, officials, employees, and the general public enthusiastically participated in the program.
- Linking Hareli’s greenery with environmental protection is a commendable initiative.
Minister in-charge Shri Rajesh Agrawal said that Hareli Tihar is a festival deeply connected to Chhattisgarh’s agriculture, nature, and folk life. On this auspicious occasion, the district administration, with public participation and public support, is highly commendable for undertaking large-scale tree plantations to make the district green, clean, and beautiful.
He stated that, in keeping with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, efforts to promote environmental protection, greenery expansion, and public participation will create an invaluable legacy for future generations. He congratulated the district administration and the residents for making the Green GPM campaign a success and placed special emphasis on ensuring the continued care and protection of the planted trees.
- MLA
and Vice Chairman of the Central Area Tribal Development Authority, Pranav Kumar Marpachchi, said that Hareli Tihar is a festival of happiness, prosperity, and gratitude to nature. Spreading the message of environmental protection through tree plantation on this occasion inspires every section of society to fulfill their responsibility towards nature.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “One Tree in the Name of Mother” campaign, he said that planting trees is not enough; it is also our collective responsibility to nurture and protect them.
- The Green GPM campaign, which ran from village to city,
was widely implemented with the participation of all sections of the district. Under the campaign, saplings were planted at various locations, including gram panchayats, municipal and town council areas, schools, Anganwadi centers, hostels and ashrams, health centers, and government office complexes.
Saplings were also planted in cow shelters, pastures, roadsides and river banks, Amrit Sarovars, and Prime Minister’s housing complexes. More than 336,000 saplings have been planted in the district under the campaign.
Collector Mr. Vijay Dayaram K. appealed to the district residents to make tree conservation and promotion integral to the campaign, along with tree plantation. He stated that each tree planted today will play a crucial role in strengthening the district’s greenery, biodiversity, and environmental balance in the years to come.
- Planting of fruit-bearing, shade-giving, and medicinal trees:
Under the Green GPM campaign, various forestry, fruit-bearing, and medicinal trees were planted. These included palm, Ashoka, mango, jamun, guava, lemon, munga, rose-berry, jackfruit, myrobalan, bahera, karanja, amla, mahua, custard apple, and bamboo.
Planting these trees will increase the district’s green cover and enhance the availability of fruit-bearing and useful trees locally. Medicinal and forestry trees will significantly contribute to environmental balance and biodiversity conservation.
- Collective pledge to protect and care for the trees:
The people present at the event took a collective pledge to protect, regularly care for, and keep the planted trees alive. On this occasion, the message was given to promote environmental protection not just by planting trees, but by promoting its conservation and promotion through public participation.
This event, organized on the occasion of Hareli, underscores the strong connection between Chhattisgarh’s agriculture and folk traditions and environmental protection. The program, which began with the worship of traditional agricultural tools, concluded with a collective pledge to plant and protect trees. Thus, through Hareli Tihar, a meaningful initiative was taken to spread the message of “Green GPM” to every village and every person.
District President Ms. Sameera Paikra, Vice President Raja Upendra Bahadur Singh, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Gaurela, Mr. Mukesh Dubey, Chairman of the District Panchayat Marwahi, Mrs. Janaki Kushro, Superintendent of Police Mr. Manoj Khilari, Divisional Forest Officer Mr. Nishant Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of the District Panchayat Mr. Mukesh Raote, along with public representatives, dignitaries, officials, employees, women from self-help groups, students, and a large number of villagers were present at the program.
