Yogi govt to establish 'Mitra Van' in Nepal and border states of UP

Lucknow : The Yogi Adityanath government has announced the establishment of 'Mitra Van' under Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan-2024, along the borders of Uttar Pradesh and the neighbouring country of Nepal.

Locations have been selected by 35 forest divisions for this purpose.

The department is engaged in establishing the Yogi government's new initiative, 'Mitra Van'. For this, a 'Vriksharopan Maha Abhiyan' will be conducted not only along the bordering states but also near the friendly nation of Nepal.

According to the government spokesman, the Forest Department is coordinating with the neighbouring states and Nepal to enhance greenery through the plantation of 35 crore saplings.

Additionally, alongside planting saplings on UP's land at the borders, the Forest Department will also involve dignitaries from other states in this mega campaign.

Under this campaign, extensive tree plantation programmes will be conducted in the border districts of the state. Robust preparations are being made in the 35 districts that border neighbouring states in this regard.

Comprehensive tree plantation programmes are being planned in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharth Nagar, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Etawah, Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Noida, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, and Shamli.

The Forest Department will establish 'Mitra Van' along the borders of districts adjoining Nepal, including Sonauli in Maharajganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Shravasti, Bahraich, and Pilibhit.

During the plantation, coordination will be established not only with representatives from Uttar Pradesh but also with the neighbouring states to involve them in this programme.

Earlier, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Department, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, has also directed 35 forest divisions to select the place for setting up 'Mitra Van' and mark the plant species for plantation to be done by the dignitaries of the neighbouring country Nepal and the border states.

He further instructed the coordination with Forest Department officials from the neighbouring country/states to obtain their opinions on species selection and ensure the availability of plants, and to provide this information to the command centre at the forest headquarters.

Along with 'Mitra Van,' instructions have been given to establish special forests like 'Shakti Van,' 'Yuva Van,' and 'Bal Van' in each district under the Abhiyan.

Additional Chief Conservator of Forests P. P. Singh stated that under the Vriksharopan Jan Abhiyan-2024, 'Mitra Van' will be set up around all states bordering Uttar Pradesh, including Bihar, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The department has completed all the preparations for this.

Saplings have also been prepared in nurseries for the plantation of 35 crore trees.