Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday urged people to turn environmental conservation into a mass movement, saying climate change has emerged as the biggest global challenge and that development can be sustainable only when balanced with nature.
Addressing the 77th state-level Van Mahotsav-2026 at Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium in Khelgaon, Soren, accompanied by his wife and JMM MLA Kalpana Soren, planted saplings and appealed to every citizen to plant at least one tree and take responsibility for nurturing it.
“Building a prosperous and balanced Jharkhand is possible only through the conservation of water, forests and land,” the chief minister said, stressing that environmental protection is the moral and social responsibility of every citizen, not just the government.
Soren said indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources, mining, industrialisation and unplanned urbanisation have intensified climate change, with its effects now visible in agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and livelihoods. He warned that erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, heatwaves and lightning strikes are becoming increasingly frequent, while wildlife is also suffering due to shrinking habitats and ecological imbalance.
The chief minister said the state would prioritise planting indigenous, fruit-bearing, medicinal and shade-giving tree species that strengthen biodiversity and support wildlife, rather than focusing only on increasing the number of trees.
He also said the government would review the survival of saplings planted under afforestation campaigns and continue recognising individuals and organisations contributing to environmental conservation.
During the programme, Soren honoured 20 ‘Van Mitras’ and representatives of forest committees from different forest divisions for their contributions to forest conservation, biodiversity enhancement and community forest management.
The chief minister also flagged off three new vehicles for the forest department as part of the event.
Author
Related Stories
Most Read
- 1HC finds peon’s dismissal over tea and biscuits amounted to ‘injustice’
- 2Brace for 29 June: a Capricorn Full Moon, Mercury retrograde and Jupiter’s leap into Leo
- 3Japan Coach’s Whiteboard Tactics Go Viral at FIFA World Cup
- 4Why Should You Not Cut Hair and Nails on Guru Purnima? Know the Religious Belief
- 5Bokaro Steel Plant to Secure Iron Ore through India’s Longest Steel-Sector Slurry Pipeline
