CITY WITNESSES UNPRECEDENTED TREE PLANTATION DRIVE — OVER 1,05,874 SAPLINGS PLANTED ACROSS 253 LOCATIONS IN A SINGLE DAY, ADMINISTRATOR SH.GULAB CHAND KATARIA SETS GREEN BENCHMARK — PERSONALLY PLANTS TREES AT 23 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE CITY

In what can be described as one of the largest and most significant environmental events in the history of Chandigarh, Punjab Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh Sh. Gulab Chand Kataria today led a massive city-wide tree plantation drive on the occasion of 'Van Mahotsav 2025'.

What unfolded across the city on this occasion was unprecedented. In a single day, a total of 1,05,874 saplings were planted at 253 pre-identified locations. From the bustling city centers to the quiet residential sectors, parks, institutional campuses, and road dividers, the city beautiful resonated with the spirit of environmental awareness.

The event was not only symbolic of the city's deepening commitment to environmental sustainability, but also reflected the Governor’s strong personal resolve to transform Chandigarh into one of India’s greenest, eco-friendly and most climate-resilient cities.

Displaying an extraordinary level of personal involvement, the Governor in person planted saplings at 23 different locations across the city, making a powerful statement with regard to preserving the environment for the sake of posterity. The Governor’s presence across such a vast range of sites ignited enthusiasm among officials, students, volunteers, and citizens alike, turning this day into a green festival of collective responsibility and civic pride.

Addressing the public during the plantation campaign, the Governor called upon every citizen to treat this occasion not as an annual ritual, but as a solemn pledge towards the wellbeing of our planet. “Van Mahotsav is not merely about planting trees; it is about planting hope, balance, and the future itself,” he said. “This is not an event, it is a green movement — one that must echo through every household, every school, every institution of Chandigarh.”

Recalling the profound words of literary legend Munshi Premchand — “Vrikshon ka arth hai jal, jal se roti aur roti se hi jeevan” — the Governor emphasized that the survival of human life is intricately linked to the existence of trees. Without trees, there can be no rains, no rivers, no fertile lands — and no future.

The Governor also pointed to sobering global statistics, citing that over 15 billion trees are lost each year worldwide, equivalent to the destruction of 40 football fields of forest every second. “These are not just numbers,” he warned, “they are urgent signals from a wounded planet. We must act now, and act with conviction.”

Chandigarh, already distinguished by its remarkable 51.54% green cover, has once again raised the national benchmark with this city-wide campaign. The Administrator applauded the past efforts of the Administration — from City Forests to Urban Green Corridors — and noted that this year, over 5 lakh saplings are scheduled to be planted across the Union Territory, reflecting the Administration’s vision for long-term ecological restoration.

To add even greater credibility to this green commitment, the Governor also inaugurated three major environmental policy frameworks during the event viz. The Greening Chandigarh Action Plan,The State Action Plan on Climate Change And The Chandigarh Tree Map.

In his address, the Governor spoke passionately about India’s deep-rooted cultural reverence for trees. From the Vedas to the Puranas, from Peepal to Neem and Tulsi, trees have been seen not merely as part of nature but as divine entities, central to our health, our environment, and our spiritual traditions.

He referenced the sacred Panchmahabhuta philosophy — Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sky — and stated that trees are the silent connectors of these five elements.

He also evoked the teachings of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose timeless verse — “Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” — reminds us that air is the teacher, water the father, and the Earth the great mother. “Our relationship with the environment,” the Governor said, “is not contractual, it is emotional. Just as a mother nurtures her children, we must nurture and protect our Earth.”

Aligning Chandigarh’s vision with the national mission of sustainability, the Governor reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to making Chandigarh a Net Zero Emission city by 2030.

He credited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for transforming environmental consciousness into a mass movement, especially through campaigns like ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, which beautifully blends emotional connection with ecological action. “Every tree planted in the name of one’s mother is a living tribute — a symbol of love, protection, and nurturing,” the Governor said.

He urged citizens, especially the youth, to carry this spirit forward. “Let this not be a one-day celebration. Let it be the beginning of a lifelong green revolution,” he said. “Planting a tree is planting a life. It is our way of giving back to the Earth that has given us everything.”

The Governor personally led tree plantation at 23 locations across Chandigarh, planting a wide variety of saplings that reflect ecological, cultural, and medicinal value. He planted Crushia at Matka Chowk, Kapur at Patiala Ki Rao, and a Mango tree at Panjab University. In Shantikunj and Sector 18’s Neighbourhood Park, he planted Neeli Gulmohar, while inaugurating a Herbal Garden at Govt Model School, Sector 22 by planting Shyam Tulsi and Amla, followed by Gardenia at Sector 23.

In Sector 53’s Garden of Spring, he planted Kachnaar, and Tulsi at CRPF 13 Battalion Camp. Gulmohar was planted at GMCH-32 and Govt College of Education, Sector 20; Guava at CISF Sector 31; Biksa Orelana and Mango in the Mango Belt of Sector 26; and a Triveni (Peepal, Banyan, Neem) at Sukhna Choe Reserve Forest. He also inaugurated Taru Vatika at Govt Model School, Sector 26, planting a Rudraksha sapling there, and another Rudraksha was planted at Punjab Raj Bhavan, symbolizing his deep personal commitment to environmental preservation.

Present during the occasion were Mayor Chandigarh Smt. Harpreet Kaur Babla Principal Secretary to the Governor Sh, Vivek Pratap Singh, Sh.Mandip Brar Home Secretary Chandigarh Administration, Sh. Pushpendra Kumar DGP Chandigarh, Sh. Amit Kumar Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Sh. Saurabh Kumar Chief Conservator of Forests and other officers of Chandigarh Administration.