Uttar Pradesh planted over 35.27 crore saplings in a single day on Sunday, surpassing its target of 35 crore under the annual Vriksharopan Mahayagya 2026, according to official figures released by the state government. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the statewide plantation drive from Gorakhpur.
The plantation drive was organised under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam‘ campaign, which encourages citizens to plant a tree in honour of their mothers while promoting environmental conservation through public participation.
Launching the campaign near the Gorakhpur Link Expressway, Adityanath planted a sacred ‘Triveni’ of neem, peepal, and banyan saplings, followed by a maulshri sapling. Addressing a public gathering, he said environmental protection and infrastructure development must progress together, saying that Uttar Pradesh has expanded its forest cover while simultaneously investing in roads, expressways, and industrial development.
According to official figures released during the drive, 35,27,89,926 saplings had been planted across the state by the evening, exceeding the government’s target by nearly 28 lakh saplings. The campaign involved the Forest Department along with multiple government departments, local bodies, educational institutions, voluntary organisations, and citizens across all 75 districts.
The government had prepared more than 57 crore saplings in government and private nurseries and identified plantation sites along highways, riverbanks, schools, gram panchayats and urban green spaces. The initiative forms part of Uttar Pradesh’s annual afforestation programme aimed at improving forest cover and mitigating the impact of climate change.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister described the plantation campaign as a “Mahayagya” dedicated to Mother Earth and linked it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam‘ initiative. He said environmental degradation has altered weather patterns, including rainfall cycles and rising temperatures, underscoring the need for large-scale public participation in tree plantation and conservation.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who participated in the plantation drive in Lucknow, said Uttar Pradesh’s green cover has increased since 2017 through annual plantation campaigns. He appealed to citizens to ensure the survival of planted saplings, stressing that the success of such campaigns depends not only on plantation numbers but also on long-term maintenance.
The Uttar Pradesh government has organised annual mass plantation drives since 2017 as part of its strategy to increase the state’s green cover, improve ecological balance, and promote environmental conservation.