Shimla, Jun 5 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the first phase of a Chinar plantation drive from his official residence Oakover on the World Environment Day on Friday.
According to an official statement, the initiative aims to enhance green cover in the hill state and promote greater public awareness about environmental conservation.
Under the project, Chinar trees would be planted in high hill areas identified by the forest department to increase green cover. Chinar trees, known for their majestic appearance, dense shade and ecological significance, is well suited for Shimla’s climatic conditions, it said.
Earlier, the chief minister had said that the state government had fixed a plantation target covering 8,000 hectares of land for the financial year 2026-27, with special emphasis on fruit-bearing and indigenous tree species to improve ecological balance and strengthen rural livelihoods.
The forest cover in Himachal Pradesh currently stands at 29.5 per cent, which the government aims to enhance to 32 per cent by 2030, he had said.
On the occasion, Sukhu also released four books on the topic.
These were “Van Bodh”, a field handbook for frontline forest personnel; “Environmental Management and Regulations”, authored by head of the state forest force, Dr Sanjay Sood; “Forestry Projects: Forest Conservation, Livelihood Improvement and Integrated Development”, which highlighted the works being undertaken under different environmental projects; and a coffee table book on 75 prominent ecotourism sites in Himachal Pradesh.
The chief minister said these publications would serve as valuable resources for forest staff and officials, researchers, policymakers and all who are interested in environmental conservation.
Speaking on the occasion, Sukhu said the younger generation has a pivotal role to play in conserving the environment. He urged them to take the lead in protecting and preserving the environment, and contribute actively towards building a greener and more sustainable future.
He called upon people from all walks of life to make environmental protection a mass movement.
The chief minister later addressed another programme at the Ridge in Shimla, conducted to create awareness on environmental protection and against drug abuse.
Addressing the gathering, Sukhu said clean water, fresh air, forests and rivers are invaluable natural resources that form the foundation of life, and protecting them is a collective responsibility.
He said Himachal Pradesh plays a vital role in providing clean water and fresh air to the country’s northern states and is therefore known as the “Lungs of North India”.
He alleged that while the state provides ecological services worth nearly Rs 90,000 crore annually to the country, it does not receive adequate compensation from the Central government for these services.
He urged people to make environmental conservation a part of their daily lives by planting more trees, conserving water and reducing the use of plastic. Rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns and increasing natural disasters clearly demonstrate that environmental protection is one of the most urgent challenges today, he said.
On the issue of drugs, the chief minister said the government has launched a mass movement against “chitta” (heroin) and other narcotic substances. He said this is not a mere government campaign but a people’s movement.
Himachal Pradesh is the first state where drug traffickers and chitta peddlers have been identified down to the panchayat level, Sukhu said, adding that strict action is being taken in areas heavily affected by drug abuse.
He said the government’s efforts have significantly weakened the drug network. PTI BPL RUK RUK
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