Chandigarh, July 14:- Haryana Forest and Environment Minister Rao Narbir Singh has called upon the people of the state to plant saplings during the Van Mahotsav celebrated every year during the monsoon and fulfill the Prime Minister's 'One tree in the name of mother' resolution. Climate change in the country has become a global problem today. Every country is emphasizing on environmental balance by running scientific research programs in its own ways and in view of this, Haryana has made a budget provision of Rs 100 crore for the first time for a Green Climate Resilience Fund. The Haryana government has set a target of planting 2 crore 10 lakh saplings in the state to promote environmental protection and green areas in the state. This campaign is being run under 'One tree in the name of mother'. Apart from this, approval has also been given to plant 20 lakh more saplings in the state under the 'CAMPA' scheme.
Minister Rao Narbir Singh said that planting a sapling is not enough, but it is also necessary to take care of it until the sapling takes root and takes the form of a tree. He said that the celebration of Van Mahotsav in the country was started in the year 1950 and every year with a new theme, all the states run programs for about a month during the monsoon. This year, during the 77th Van Mahotsav, many state-level and district-level events will be held in Haryana as well. In this series, the Central Government has launched the 'Catch the Rain' campaign so that people take the pledge of water conservation by saving every drop of rainwater. So that maximum monsoon water is stored, the surrounding ponds and reservoirs should be made suitable for conservation and use. He said that World Environment Day-2026 also proved to be historic and important for Haryana in many ways. While extensive public awareness programmes were organised across the state on environmental protection, educational institutions, social organisations and common citizens took a collective resolve to make Haryana a green and eco-friendly state by joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Peer Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. The Haryana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, is taking visionary and effective steps to promote environmental protection, green energy and clean transport. The government’s objective is not limited to economic development alone, but also to provide clean air, a better environment and a quality life to future generations. Environmental protection and economic progress complement each other and green technology, clean energy and electric mobility have become the imperative need of the future. He said that World Environment Day was started by the United Nations in the year 1972 with the aim of increasing global awareness towards environmental protection. It was first organized in the year 1973 with the theme ‘Only One Earth’. Since then, the day has been celebrated with themes like climate change, plastic pollution, biodiversity conservation, deforestation, food security and ecosystem restoration in the centre. This year’s theme has been set as ‘Inspired by Nature – For Climate, For Our Future’, which conveys the message of facing climate challenges through nature-based solutions. He said that the Rs 100 crore Green Climate Resilience Fund proposed by the state government will play a significant role in promoting zero-emission vehicles, renewable energy, energy efficiency, water security, urban greenery, climate-friendly agriculture and nature-based solutions in Haryana. Through this, innovation-based investment in the field of environmental protection will be encouraged along with effectively addressing the challenges of air and water pollution.