Gujarat Govt to plant one lakh saplings during 'Van Mahotsav'

Ahmedabad, July 14 (UNI) The Gujarat government has decided to plant one lakh saplings in each of the 18,000-odd villages across the state with the people's participation during the 57th Van Mahotsav, which was launched atop the Taranga Hills in Mehsana district.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday the nurseries run by the State Forest and Environment Department and other agencies would provide the saplings to the villages.

He said that 'Tirthankar' Van Mahotsava, named after the 24 Jain Tirthankars, is to live up to their according utmost importance to green cover. The Taranga Hills in north Gujarat region was chosen to halt the progress of desert towards the state.

Forest Minister Mangubhai Patel claimed that Gujarat could boast of creating 5.46 lakh hectares of forests so far under Social Forestry.

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