New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) From Union Ministers to Members of Parliament and many BJP leaders across the states planted saplings in their respective constituencies on Friday to mark World Environment Day.

Various tree plantation programmes by lawmakers and leaders organised across the country sought to give strength to the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this day in 2024, for a greener and healthier planet.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal planted a sapling in Tirumala hills after paying obeisance to Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati Balaji temple and appealed to people to sow and nurture plants to inspire others to build a greener, cleaner and more resilient India for future generations.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated 18 Namo Oxygen Parks in the national capital and launched a series of environmental initiatives under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.

“The campaign has transformed tree plantation into people’s movement rooted in gratitude, responsibility and environmental consciousness. I urge all citizens not only to plant trees but also to nurture and protect them for future generations,” he said in a post on X.

BJP MP Virender Sachdeva planted saplings in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar area and urged people to plant more trees, reduce paper usage, and avoid single-use plastic to protect the environment.

In Gujarat, State Minister of State Rivaba Jadeja participated in a plantation drive organised jointly by the District administration and forest department near Samarpan Circle and urged citizens to support Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign and environmental conservation efforts.

In Maharashtra, State Minister Girish Mahajan and Nashik Mayor Himagouri Adke took part in a cleanliness drive organised on the banks of the Nandini River. The campaign witnessed a huge turnout of 10,000 to 15,000 activists and volunteers.

Danish Azad Ansari, the minority affairs minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, made a fervent appeal to people to celebrate the Environment Day by participating in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.

“On this occasion of World Environment Day, we should all plant a tree in the name of our mother,” he said in a video message.

In West Bengal, a tree plantation project titled Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam was launched at the Ramakrishna Mission in Asansol.

Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul planted a sapling in the Ramakrishna Mission premises and appealed to people to connect with PM Modi’s mission and vision for a cleaner and greener planet.

In Bihar, the BJP state unit organised a special campaign for environment conservation, deploying party workers and volunteers to steer proper implementation.

BJP state President Sanjay Saraogi said that on the occasion of World Environment Day, every BJP worker will plant a tree under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to increase forest cover in Bihar for the protection of the environment.

–IANS

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