Indore, which has earned nationwide recognition for its cleanliness, has now taken a major step towards transforming itself from a clean city into a green city.
Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, along with his wife, launched a mega plantation drive at Ahilya Upvan on Tuesday by planting saplings. As part of the campaign, 21,000 saplings will be planted at the site.
Most of the saplings being planted under the initiative are fruit-bearing varieties. Once they grow, the area will be developed as a dense forest and fruit garden.
School students, representatives of social and voluntary organisations, and local residents also participated in the plantation drive and delivered a message of environmental conservation.
Fruit-bearing trees planted to compensate for trees removed
The mayor said planting trees alone is not enough for environmental protection. The bigger responsibility is to protect the saplings and ensure that they eventually grow into mature trees.
The Indore Municipal Corporation is working with this approach, he said.
Fruit-bearing saplings measuring 5 to 8 feet in height are being planted at Ahilya Upvan as compensation for trees that had to be removed during various development and construction projects across the city.
The Mayor planted saplings with school children.
Agency to maintain saplings for 3 years
The Mayor said an authorised agency will be responsible for the regular maintenance, irrigation and protection of the garden and saplings for the next three years.
The objective is to ensure that the newly planted saplings survive and develop into dense, mature trees.
“Now our goal is to transform Indore from a clean city into a green city,” the mayor said.
A large number of saplings planted.
Indore targets 21 lakh saplings this year
The city has set a target of planting 21 lakh saplings across Indore this year.
The initiative is being undertaken under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, with the aim of expanding the city’s green cover and strengthening environmental conservation efforts.
